Portrush RNLI comes to aid of fishing vessel off Ballycastle
Monday 2 November 2026
Portrush RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat was requested to launch by the Coastguard at 7.06pm yesterday evening (Sunday), following reports of a 14-metre fishing vessel experiencing engine failure just off Ballycastle Harbour.
The volunteer crew launched at 7.26pm and made their way to the casualty vessel, arriving on scene at 8.10pm.
Conditions were slightly choppy, with partially cloudy skies and a light southerly wind. On arrival, the lifeboat crew found the fishing vessel already under tow by another vessel, with its crew having transferred safely into their own boat.
Following an assessment of the situation and the risks involved, it was agreed that the safest course of action was for Portrush RNLI to take over the tow and bring the disabled vessel into Ballycastle Harbour, the nearest safe haven.
Volunteer crew members were transferred onto the fishing vessel to establish the tow lines before the all-weather lifeboat took the vessel under tow. The fishing vessel was safely brought into Ballycastle Harbour and handed over to the Coastguard.
Portrush RNLI Coxswain Karl O’Neill said:
‘Weather conditions were ideal for this kind of tow. Once on scene and the risk assessment was carried out it was clear that the best option for both boats was the tow back to Ballycastle Harbour.’
The lifeboat and volunteer crew departed the scene at 9.15pm and arrived safely back at Portrush at 10.30pm.
The volunteer crew on the call-out were Coxswain Karl O’Neill, Mechanic Dave Robinson, Debs Smyth, Colm Watters, Ben Wilson and John Simpson.
The launch Authority was Ben Durrant.
