THE Arranmore lifeboat was launched on Tuesday evening to assist a fishing vessel in difficulty off the coast of Donegal.
Volunteer lifeboat crew from Arranmore RNLI responded to a call for assistance at 7.15pm on Tuesday from a boat with two crew onboard which had got into difficulty, in moderate winds. It was one and a half miles off the coast of Owey Island, County Donegal.
The 36ft fishing boat was on passage from Killybegs to the east coast with two people on board, when they developed engine trouble. With a moderate northerly wind blowing, the crew of the fishing boat were concerned that they would be blown onto the island of Owey and asked for assistance.
The lifeboat arrived on scene, which was a short distance from Arranmore, within minutes of launching and secured a tow rope to the stricken vessel. They then proceeded to tow the boat into Burtonport harbour where both crew members were safely landed.
Speaking following the callout Arranmore RNLI Coxswain Anton Kavanagh said: “ I am pleased that we could offer assistance so quickly and I would credit the crew of the fishing boat for taking all the necessary safety precautions on their journey. They made the correct call in asking for help.”
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the Ireland and the UK. The RNLI operates 235 lifeboat stations around Ireland and the UK with 45 operational lifeboat stations in Ireland.
The RNLI is independent of the Coast Guard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service.
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