Margate RNLI called to 10 people aboard windfarm vessel struck by fire

Margate RNLI attempted to save the fishing vessel from sinking Photo Margate RNLI

Margate’s RNLI all-weather lifeboat was called to help 10 people onboard a vessel after it developed a fire in one of its engine rooms last night (September 4) .

The windfarm support vessel issued a Mayday distress message around 6pm reporting the fire. It was around 15 miles north of Margate at the time and had two crew and eight passengers on board. UK Coastguard tasked Margate’s all-weather RNLI lifeboat to assist with three other windfarm support vessels also joining the effort.

The affected compartment on the vessel was sealed off and its fixed firefighting system activated, with the master reporting that the fire had been extinguished. As a precaution the eight passengers were transferred to another support vessel.

Once on the scene the lifeboat put one of its crew members on board the stricken craft to assist the crew to establish a tow with a third windfarm support vessel and it was to the safety of Ramsgate harbour, escorted by the lifeboat.

Once in harbour the lifeboat provided additional safety stand-by cover while Kent Fire and Rescue teams confirmed the fire was out.