Port St Mary Lifeboat Station - Callouts: 20th November 2001.

Weather: Wind SW force 5 ; weather cloudy

18:23 UTC: The 79 foot long trawler, "Golden Harvest", S2, of Clogherhead, contacted Liverpool Coastguard reporting that it was taking water in a position 5 miles SE of Chickens Rock. The water level had reached the bottom of the main engine but the engine was still going . There were 5 persons on board and they changed course to head to the nearest port which was Port St Mary. The Coastguard immediately re-broadcast a 'Pan Pan' message to any vessels in the area. A few minutes later the Kirkcudbright scalloper "Two Boys" responded that they were within 5 miles and would proceed to assist. In addition, several other fishing vessels offered helped.

The Coastguards alerted the crew of Port St Mary Lifeboat which was on its way at 18:30 UTC taking out a salvage pump to assist in pumping the vessel out, if it was required. ETA at the Golden Harvest was twenty five minutes.

Five minutes later the Golden Harvest reported that the water intake had been checked and that their bilge pump was starting to cause the water level to drop. The lifeboat continued out to meet the trawler.

At 18:52 UTC the Coastguards contacted the Two Boys to inform them that they weren't required and thank them for their assistance. Shortly after that, the Lifeboat arrived at the Golden Harvest and proceeded to escort it back to Port St Mary. Both vessels arrived safely in harbour just before 20:00 UTC.

(MFV Golden Harvest at Douglas - Copyright Michael Craine, Onchan)

Back to Callouts Index

Edited 20-Nov -01