Rescue: 05 August 2007, Vicky May 009-07
Long Tow Home for Fishing Boat

The Staithes & Runswick RNLI lifeboat was launched shortly after 3:00pm on Sunday afternoon to assist a broken down fishing boat with two people onboard.

The skipper of the 29-foot fishing boat radioed Humber Coastguard to report that the engine would not start and that they required assistance. The lifeboat launched and found the vessel, at 3:30pm, approximately six miles north of Staithes.

The lifeboat commenced towing the disabled boat to its homeport of Paddy’s Hole at the entrance to the river Tees. This involved a tow of a further nine miles and Humber Coastguard was concerned that there was now no lifeboat coverage in the Staithes area. It was agreed to hand the tow over to Hartlepool lifeboat, and this was done at 4:45pm, allowing Staithes lifeboat to return to station. The lifeboat arrived back at 5:30 pm.

Hartlepool lifeboat carried on towing the vessel safely to Paddy’s Hole, arriving at about 5:45pm.

“The Skipper of the fishing boat did the right thing by radioing the Coastguard as soon as he realised there was a problem. There was a fresh southerly breeze blowing, taking them further out to sea”.

— Lee Jackson, a Staithes Lifeboat Helmsman

Towing the fishing boat

Hartlepool Lifeboat arrives to take over the towing

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