RECENTLY, Angle RNLI crew members worked all night assisting a 15m fishing vessel with seven crew aboard and mechanical issues.

After the crew was paged a few minutes before 9pm on Friday, November 14, the lifeboat made best speed to the vessel, which was 26.5 miles southwest of St Ann’s Head, arriving approximately two hours later.

Following an assessment by the coxswain, it was determined that, due to the vessel’s position, the risk it posed to other vessels in the area, and concerns for the welfare of those on board, the safest course of action was to take the vessel in tow.

A tow was rigged and a course set for Milford dock. After a long, slow tow lasting over seven hours, they arrived off Milford Docks shortly before 7.30 am. While waiting for the next available lock, the fishing vessel was placed in an alongside tow.

The casualty vessel was then safely manoeuvred into the lock and secured alongside the quay by 8am. With no further assistance required, the lifeboat was stood down, refuelled, and made ready for further service by 8.45am - nearly 12 hours after being paged.