Coast Guard transports seven crew from damaged Cork trawler to safety

They were taken off the ship, at Castletownbere, one by one, by a member of the coast guard using a helicopter winch.

In a statement tonight, the Irish Coast Guard said: “Late this afternoon, in light of deteriorating weather conditions and concerns about the stability of the Irish fishing vessel Ellie Adhamh, it was decided to evacuate the crew of seven. .

“The Waterford and Shannon based coast guard helicopters that were on standby off the southwest coast were again dispatched to the scene by the Valentia Coast Guard, [which was] coordinate the operation.

“With the support of the all-weather lifeboat LÉ George Bernard Shaw and Castletownbere RNLI, the crew were successfully airlifted to R117 and brought safely to Cork.

“The crew is understood to be in a good mood.

In light of the prevailing conditions, the evacuation proved to be a great challenge and the successful outcome is testament to the skill and professionalism of all involved.

LÉ George Bernard Shaw tows a damaged Cork fishing boat back to Bantry Bay

Previously, the LÉ George Bernard Shaw had towed the crashed fishing boat off the West Cork coast to Bantry.

The coast guard said the towing proceeded “satisfactorily” and that the trawler reached Bantry Bay tonight, where arrangements were made for the ship to be brought into port.

RNLI in race against time to save Cork fishing boat

The RNLI was in a race against time to save the crew of a crashed fishing boat that has been adrift at sea and at the center of rescue efforts for more than 24 hours.

The Castletownbere lifeboat crew left their base in West Cork at 8am this morning and needed to set up a trailer on the paralyzed craft before severe weather hit this afternoon.

It was the last attempt to save the fishing vessel and its seven-person crew that first raised the alarm at 7am yesterday morning. They said their registered 25m Castletownbere, Ellie Adhamh, had lost power and was starting to move away from West Cork.

All attempts to restart the engines had failed.

In an operation overseen by the Valentia Coast Guard, a tug was dispatched to the scene in an effort to tow the ship ashore.

But it was hit by a large wave about 30 kilometers offshore that broke three windows in its wheelhouse.

The Castletownbere lifeboat was tasked and assisted the tug ashore, while the Irish Navy vessel, the LÉ George Bernard Shaw, went to assist the fishing vessel.

But swells of up to eight meters and 50-knot winds prevented three attempts to establish a tow with the wrecked vessel and the Coast Guard R115 rescue helicopter was commissioned.

LÉ George Bernard Shaw remained on the scene as the helicopter crew dropped bombs at the crew in the paralyzed boat to help them clear the water.