Fishermen Call for Help in Worsening Weather

Saturday, December 05, 2009
Posted 00:28 GMT

At twenty minutes past nine this evening, Belfast Coastguard received a telephone call from Police Service Northern Ireland (PSNI) informing them that they had received a telephone call from two fishermen in distress.

The two fishermen were out fishing for whelks in worsening weather and had broken down 1 mile South of Portavogie. The fishermen were equipped with lifejackets and had an anchor and rope which they had deployed.

Belfast Coastguard called out the Portaferry Coastguard Rescue Team and requested the launch of Portaferry RNLI inshore lifeboat. The Portaferry inshore lifeboat was unable to launch due to the worsening weather conditions, so the Donaghadee RNLI lifeboat was requested. The Coastguard helicopter from Dublin was also requested to scramble.

The weather was southwesterly winds Gale Force Eight and very rough seas, whilst the lifeboat was on scene and R116 was en route, the Orkney longliner fetched up on a sandy beach. The fishermen were safe and well and were met by Portaferry Coastguard Rescue Officers.

The lifeboat and helicopter were then stood down.

Rob Steventon, Belfast Coastguard said:

The weather has been worsening all evening, fishermen are reminded to check the weather forecast before putting to sea and to ensure that appropriate life saving apparatus is carried.

I am pleased to hear that these two fishermen were wearing lifejackets, unfortunately they were not equipped with a VHF Radio and when they did make a call for help they phoned one of our partner emergency services on their mobile phone. Asking for the Coastguard could have saved valuable time.

For further details contact:
The Maritime & Coastguard Agency Press Office
023 8032 9401