Portrush RNLI crew launch to aid fishing vessel in difficulty off Portrush Harbour

Portrush RNLI launched their all-weather lifeboat on Saturday evening following a report of a fishing vessel with four people on board experiencing difficulty approximately one mile from Portrush Harbour.

The emergency call was received by Belfast Coastguard on the afternoon of Saturday 14 June, prompting an immediate response from the lifeboat crew.

Under the command of Coxswain Johnny Weston, the all-weather lifeboat (ALB) launched at 5.18pm, just ten minutes after the crew was paged, and reached the stricken vessel by 5.26pm.

Despite overcast skies, visibility at sea remained fair, allowing the volunteer crew to quickly locate the fishing boat and assess the situation. Following a rapid on-scene risk assessment, the decision was made to tow the vessel back to the safety of Portrush Harbour.

A tow rope was secured, and the lifeboat returned to the harbour with the fishing vessel in tow, arriving back at the pontoon at 5.54pm.

Judy Nelson, Volunteer Press Officer for Portrush RNLI, praised the professionalism of the crew, stating:

“This was a standard rescue for our crew and weather conditions helped with a quick efficient execution of the tow. This is something our crew train for and are experienced at this type of scenario.”

Saturday’s successful operation underscores the vital role of the RNLI in ensuring safety at sea, with volunteers on call 24/7 to respond to emergencies along the coast.

The RNLI has reminded all vessel operators to ensure their boats are well-maintained and to always carry the appropriate safety equipment and communications tools when heading to sea.