Fishing fleets keep Salcombe Lifeboat busy this weekend

On Saturday February 13 Salcombe All-Weather Lifeboat launched at 9.30pm to 26.5 meter trawler 26 miles South of Prawl point. The vessel was taking on water, her crew started their own onboard salvage pump, but their equipment was not working correctly, with around about a foot of seawater being taken onboard the crew requested assistance.

HM Coastguard, Brixham requested the launch of the Salcombe All-Weather Lifeboat. The trawler continued to make for the South Devon coastline in an attempt to reach safe waters.

When Salcombe Lifeboat had arrived on scene the crew of the 26.5 meter trawler were happy that their salvage pump was now operating adequately. Continuing to run the pump, Salcombe Lifeboat escorted the vessel as they made for their home port of Brixham.

Seeing that the casualty vessel was heading for Brixham, the coastguard launched Torbay All-Weather Lifeboat to take over the escort in the Skerries bank area just off Start Point. Salcombe All-Weather Lifeboat returned to station.

Salcombe is a coastal town where, fishing is a large part of life and fishing boats small and large operate out of Salcombe.

The RNLI provide a 24-hour lifeboat search and rescue service to 100 nautical miles out from the coast. There are 235 lifeboat stations strategically placed around the UK and ROI. After launching, Salcombe Lifeboat can respond to a vessel in distress in the hazardous areas of Start point to the east or Bolt Tail to the west in under 12 minutes.

Source: RNLI"

WorldFishingToday d. 17-02-2010