Margate’s RNLI all-weather lifeboat has provided help to a fishing vessel that suffered machinery problems in the busy waters of the Thames estuary.
The 10m long, Leigh-on-Sea Essex-based commercial fishing vessel contacted UK Coastguard just before lunchtime today June 22) reporting that they were encountering machinery problems including a faulty hydraulic system. The vessel, with two people on board was fishing in calm weather conditions around 10 miles north of Margate at the time.
The position was close to both the London Array offshore windfarm and busy shipping lanes to and from the Thames and Medway rivers and Margate’s RNLI all-weather lifeboat was tasked to provide assistance if required. Coastguards alerted other vessels in the area via a Pan-Pan urgency broadcast and two nearby offshore windfarm support vessels also responded and headed for the area and stood by the fishing vessel.
The crew of the fishing vessel were eventually able to restore some power and they decided to return to their home port. As a precaution the lifeboat escorted the vessel to a position off Herne Bay where, as the vessel was making good progress, the lifeboat was released by the coastguard and returned to station.
