Clogherhead RNLI comes to the aid of fishing trawler taking on water off County Louth coast
- Pat Nolan
- 4 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Thursday 6 August 2026
Clogherhead RNLI launched to assist a fishing trawler that was taking on water just half a nautical mile east of the station, with the casualty and vessel brought safely to Port Oriel.
The volunteer crew at Clogherhead RNLI were requested to launch their all-weather Shannon class lifeboat, Michael O'Brien, at 3.15pm on Wednesday (5 August) after reports that a fishing trawler was at risk of sinking just off Clogherhead beach.
Five lifeboat crew launched aboard the Shannon class lifeboat, supported by six volunteer shore crew members.
Before the lifeboat arrived on scene, the lone fisherman had been transferred safely to a nearby fishing vessel after concerns that his own boat was taking on water. On arrival, the RNLI crew transferred the casualty on board the lifeboat. He was assessed by the crew and was found to be in good health, requiring no medical assistance.
The lifeboat then went alongside the casualty vessel where volunteer crew deployed portable salvage pumps to remove the water from the boat. An RNLI crew member remained aboard the fishing vessel alongside its skipper to monitor the water ingress while pumping operations continued.
Once the flooding was brought under control, the fishing vessel's engine was successfully restarted. The lifeboat then escorted the trawler safely back to Port Oriel under its own power.
Also in attendance were the Clogherhead Coast Guard Unit, the National Ambulance Service and the Irish Coast Guard Rescue Helicopter, all of whom remained on standby throughout the incident.
Speaking following the callout, Clogherhead RNLI Coxswain Tomas Whelehan said:
"The skipper did the right thing by calling for help. His quick actions and the assistance of a nearby fishing vessel, combined with the close proximity of the lifeboat, helped ensure a positive outcome. This incident highlights the importance of acting quickly when there is water ingress and a vessel may be at risk of sinking.
"We always encourage anyone working at sea to keep their vessel well maintained and to ensure you can stay afloat with a lifejacket, stay in touch with a radio or phone, and stay put with a suitable anchor. If you do get into difficulty, call the Coast Guard on VHF Channel 16 or by phoning 999 or 112."
