The Moelfre RNLI Lifeboat launched on Sunday at 11.31am to assist in the rescue operation of a fishing trawler stranded on the rocks near the Moelfre RNLI Lifeboat Station. The 25 metre, 120 tonne vessel form Troon, Scotland had ran aground during the night, and was waiting for the tide to rise.
The Moelfre RNLI lifeboat, under the command of Second Coxswain Mike Williams, arrived at the scene within minutes. An assessment was quickly made of the situation, and as the fishing trawler’s sister vessel was also on scene, they would attempt to tow it. A tow rope was passed between the vessels, but this attempt failed. The trawler then requested the assistance of the Moelfre RNLI lifeboat.
A tow line was transferred between the Moelfre RNLI lifeboat and the fishing trawler, and with the extra power from the RNLI lifeboat’s twin engines the vessel came free from the rocks at 12.47pm.
Moelfre RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, Rod Pace said: ‘The vessel was towed to deeper water and a damage assessment carried out. Thankfully no damage was found, and they continued with their fishing tasks.’
The location of this incident was near the locations of the famous wrecks of the Steam Clipper Royal Charter which ran aground in a hurricane in 1859 with a loss of 459 lives, and the MV Hindlea. The Hindlea ran aground in 1959, with the Moelfre RNLI lifeboat crew rescuing all the ships eight crew before she hit the rocks in 104 mph winds.
Coxswain, Dick Evans was awarded his first RNLI Gold medal and the remainder of the volunteer RNLI lifeboat crew received Silver and Bronze RNLI medals for this outstanding rescue.
