MARY ELLEN
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348 days ago
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Trawler broke down off Fanad Lighthouse
On Jan 18, 2018, at 1.06 a.m. the Lough Swilly ALB launched to the "Mary Ellen - B 245" which had broken downeast of Fanad lighthouse. The disabled fishing vessel was taken on tow and brought to Rathmullan pier. Video: https://rnli.org/news-and-media/2018/january/22/lough-swilly-rnli-assist-a-broken-down-fishing-vessel
Mary Ellen reached Rathmullan
The Lough Swilly RNLI rescued five people onboard the "Mary Ellen" in the evening of Dec 2 after the vessel’s engine broke down in Co Donegal. Also the Portrush RNLI was launched to assist the stricken vessel. Volunteer crew members from Lough Swilly had been attending a commemoration in Portsalon when they were requested to launch to the boat that had broken down some 10 miles further on. The all-weather Tyne class lifeboat arrived on scene at 3.15 p.m. where the crew observed a steel crabber with five men onboard. The fishing boat was carrying a load of crab. Weather conditions at the time were described as blowing gusts of between gale force 5 and 6 up the lough. The crew pursued to establish a towline and commence the return journey to shore. After towing the vessel for a couple of hours into the dark, the tide began to turn, making the pull more difficult. A relief lifeboat from Lough Swilly and Portrush RNLI were requested to launch to assist. As the boat was being towed up the lough it lost all power and VHF was transferred from the lifeboat for communication. When Portrush RNLI arrived on scene, the crew assisted with the tow while the Lough Swilly relief lifeboat stood by. The stricken vessel’s mechanic managed to restart the engine during the tow and the vessel made its way into Rathmullan while the Lough Swilly lifeboat stood by in case it required further assistance. The lifeboat crew who arrived back at the station in the early hours of Dec 3.
Fishing boat lost power off Fanad Head
Two lifeboats had to come to the aid of the "Mary Ellen" which lost power off the coast of Donegal with five crew on board 1,5 miles off Fanad Head in the early afternoon of Dec 2, 2012, in treacherous sea conditions. Its crew made an emergency call which was picked up by the Malin Head coastguard radio station. The Lough Swilly Lifeboat from Buncrana was dispatched as well as the All Weather lifeboat from Portrush in order to take the casualty in tow. There was a strong swell, and the Coastguard helicopter from Sligo, which was at the scene earlier, was put on standby in Derry in case it became necessary to airlift the crew.
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