Drifting fishing boat recovered from Larne shipping channel after RNLI launch rescue operation

The scene today as Larne RNLI volunteers were tasked to a fishing boat drifting in the shipping lane close to the Port of Larne. (Images: Alex Morris)

A small fishing boat found drifting unattended in a busy shipping channel close to the Port of Larne was safely recovered on Sunday afternoon after volunteers from Larne RNLI were called into action.

The alarm was raised at 4.44pm on Sunday, July 5, when the volunteer crew of Larne RNLI were requested by HM Coastguard to launch their inshore lifeboat, Terry, following reports that a fishing vessel was adrift in the channel near the harbour.

With commercial shipping traffic regularly using the route, the presence of an unmanned boat in the channel posed a potential hazard to navigation and required an immediate response.

Volunteer crew launched to locate drifting vessel

Helm Samantha Agnew and crew members Ross Stewart, Shea McFerran and Scott Leitch made their way to the boat’s last reported position aboard the inshore lifeboat.

Conditions on the water were described as good, although crews encountered a moderate breeze and choppy seas as they searched the area.

Upon arrival, the RNLI crew located the vessel and quickly established that it was empty.

The fishing boat appeared to have broken free from its mooring and had drifted into the channel without anyone on board.

Risk to shipping traffic prompted recovery operation

After assessing the situation, the RNLI crew determined that leaving the vessel adrift in the shipping lane would present an unnecessary danger to other marine traffic entering and leaving the Port of Larne.

The decision was therefore taken to establish a tow line and bring the vessel to a place of safety.

The operation was completed successfully, with the fishing boat towed back into the harbour area before being safely returned to East Antrim Boat Club.

Another reminder of RNLI volunteers’ role on local waters

While no injuries were reported and nobody was found to be in difficulty, the incident highlighted the importance of rapid response capabilities along Northern Ireland’s coastline and the role played by volunteer lifeboat crews in keeping local waters safe.

The Larne RNLI crew were able to quickly remove the hazard from the shipping channel and return the vessel safely, bringing the operation to a successful conclusion on what could otherwise have become a more serious incident.