Lifeboat saves fishermen in first call-out

A NEW lifeboat funded by a €3 million legacy had its first call-out yesterday morning when it came to the rescue of two fishermen in trouble off the south-east.

The volunteer lifeboat crew at Kilmore Quay in Co Wexford drafted the new Tamar lifeboat, the Killarney, into action at 9.11am to help the two men in difficulty about 8km out to sea.

Their fishing vessel had lost power and the crew had managed to tie up to a lobster pot to prevent them drifting further.

A strong offshore breeze was adding to their difficulties when the lifeboat was requested to launch.

The Kilmore Quay lifeboat crew is undergoing intensive training on the new lifeboat which only arrived last Wednesday.

The lifeboat was on the scene in 12 minutes and took the fishing vessel under tow into Kilmore Quay harbour.

Along with coxswain Eugene Kehoe, on board were lifeboat mechanic Brian Kehoe and two Kilmore Quay lifeboat crew members and deputy divisional inspector Gareth Morrison and divisional engineer David Murrin.

The Tamar is currently at sea every day for training to ensure all the volunteer crew members are fully trained on the new lifeboat.

Deputy divisional inspector Gareth Morrison said the new Tamar boat performed superbly during the mission.

“The extra speed in responding to call-outs along with the improved radio direction-finding equipment helped us locate the casualty vessel very quickly. On a bad night and in challenging conditions this will make a huge difference for the lifeboat volunteers.”

Over half of Kilmore Quay’s call-outs are to fishing vessels. The new Tamar class lifeboat is 16.3 metres in length with a maximum speed of 25 knots compared to the 14.3 metres of the Tyne- class lifeboat stationed at Kilmore Quay which has a maximum speed of 18 knots.

The craft was entirely funded through a €3m legacy from the late Marie Weeks, who lived in Surrey, England, until her death four years ago. She wanted to fund a lifeboat after losing two relatives during a major sea disaster off Britain in 1916.

The lifeboat is self-righting and is fitted with an integrated electronics systems and information management system, which allows the lifeboat crew to monitor, operate and control many of the boat’s systems from shock mitigating seats.