Five rescued by RNLI as fishing boat sinks off Balbriggan

VOLUNTEER lifeboat crews from Skerries, Howth and Clogherhead RNLI were involved in the rescue of five fishermen whose boat ran aground off the Dublin coast early this morning.

The RNLI was alerted at 5.15am that a vessel with five people onboard a 12m fishing trawler had run aground south of Balbriggan.

Skerries inshore lifeboat, helmed by Eoin Grimes, launched along with Howth RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat under Coxswain Fred Connolly and Clogherhead RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat, under Coxswain Noel Sharkey.

The Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 116 from Dublin was also tasked to the scene.

Weather conditions at the time were described as overcast with a south easterly Force 3-4 wind blowing.

First on scene, Skerries RNLI set up a tow line but attempts to take the vessel off failed. The lifeboat crew proceeded to take the fishermen off their vessel and transferred them onto the lifeboat.

On arrival of the all-weather lifeboat from Howth, the fishermen were then safely transferred by the crew.

In a bid to salvage the fishing vessel, two pumps from Clogherhead and Howth lifeboats were put onboard along with a third from the helicopter. However, despite the crews’ efforts, the pumps couldn’t overcome the water ingress and the boat sank shortly after 8am.

The fishermen were brought safely to shore in Skerries by Howth’s lifeboat where they arrived at 8.25am.

Speaking following the call out, Colm Newport, Howth RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, said: “Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of all crews involved this morning, the vessel did sink but thankfully all five fishermen have been returned safely to shore and we would like to wish them well following their ordeal. They did the right thing this morning and raised the alarm once they began to encounter difficulties and we were happy to be able to help.   

“This call out involved lifeboat crews from three RNLI stations and our colleagues from the Irish Coast Guard, all of whom using their skills and training worked well together to bring the fishermen to safety.”

Meanwhile, Fingal County Council is monitoring an area south of Balbriggan Harbour for signs of possible pollution follow the sinking of the fishing vessel.

The ‘Altlanic Osprey’ is understood to have been carrying approximately 400 litres of diesel and 30 litres of lube oil when it sank.

The Irish Coast Guard and Fingal County Council are actively monitoring the area for signs of fuel leakage from the vessel.

Staff members from the council’s operations and environmental departments are ready to activate Fingal County Council’s Oil Pollution Response Plan if required. 

“Council staff will respond to pollution reaching the beaches in the area while the Irish Coast Guard are working with the vessel’s owners and insurers to prepare to salvage the vessel,” said a spokesperson for Fingal County Council.