TAHUME

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Course/Position

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Disabled trawler towed to Belfast

The "Tahume" lost engine power and required a tow, in position 54 44 11.4 N, 05 28 55.2 W, on March 3, 2018, at 8 p.m. The Bangor Coastguard Rescue Team (CRT) and the Donaghadee ALB were tasked. The Donaghadee RNLI all-weather lifeboat "Saxon" launched at 8.12 p.m. at the request by the Belfast Coastguard. They made good speed toward the stricken vessel Tahume which was reported to be 2.5 nautical miles North East of the Mew Island. Despite a strong easterly wind force 5-7, the volunteer crew were able to establish a tow line at approximately 8.47 p.m. Due to the size of the fishing boat and the sea conditions the decision was made that the lifeboat would tow the casualty to the safety of Belfast Harbour. Amid a 2-3 metre swell and with the flood tide against them, the initial progress was slow but once past the Mew Island and into Belfast Lough the lifeboat was able to make a steady speed of approx. 5.5 knots. The lifeboat and the pilot boat "Michael Evans" from Belfast Harbour met in Belfast Lough at the Fairway Buoy where a pilot went aboard the fishing vessel and once in the Victoria channel, an alongside tow was established with the port tug "Sally McLoughlin". The lifeboat was then able recover their towline and the tug safely berthed the fishing vessel. The SAR operations were terminated on March 4 at 1 a.m. The "Tahume" had sailed from Santa Eugenia de Riveira on Feb 26 with a crew of 18 on board. The Belfast Coastguard was in direct contact withthe vessel's agents. Report with photo: https://rnli.org/news-and-media/2018/march/04/donaghadee-rnli-tow-117ft-spanish-fishing-vessel-to-belfast-harbour