Selsey Lifeboat Station - Launches
24th January 2016
Selsey RNLI Gets Early Morning Call for Help
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The volunteer crew at Selsey RNLI were paged at 2.08 a.m. on Sunday 24th January 2016 by UK Coastguards. The 20-metre French stern trawler, 'Eridan', had reported total machinery failure in a position 8 miles south-east of the Lifeboat station.
'Eridian' had four persons aboard, weighed 113 tons and had a 3m draught. They had been fishing when the machinery failure occurred and so 230 metres of net were still in the water, streaming out of the stern of the vessel. The weather on scene was wind SW force 5 in moderate to rough seas with spells of rain and fog patches.
'Voluntary Worker' launched at 2.20 a.m. and proceeded to the given position, arriving on scene at 2.58 a.m. The skipper of 'Eridan' said that they would release the net, anchor it to the sea bed and buoy it for recovery at a later date. When this was completed at 4.10 a.m. a tow was established between the Lifeboat and the trawler and a decision was made to tow the vessel to Portsmouth due to its size.
Communications were poor during this incident due to the language barrier and sometimes messages were relayed via the Cross Gris Nez (French Maritime Organisation). The tow commenced at 4.20 a.m. and due to tide, weather and the size of the vessel, progress was slow. During the tow it was established that another French trawler was on its way to take over the tow into Portsmouth.
At 8.00am the UK coastguard requested that 'Eridan' anchor in the position at that time, some 6 miles south-west of Selsey Bill, and the tow be released by Selsey Lifeboat. The coastguard had requested Bembridge Lifeboat to launch to stand by the trawler until the arrival of the other French vessel and escort them both into Portsmouth Harbour.
Selsey Lifeboat was released from the incident at 8.30 a.m. and headed back to the station, arriving at 9.00 a.m. and rehousing straight away.
CREW: Martin Rudwick (Coxswain), Willy Pledger (2nd Coxswain), Phil Pitham (Mechanic), Max Gilligan, Colin Pullenger, Sam Troughton-Smith and Pip Skeet.
Video of this service call courtesy of Max Gilligan, Crew Member and LPO.