21/04/2004

Lifeboat resumes search operation for missing fisherman

The search for a fisherman, missing since yesterday, off the West Cork Coast resumed this morning. The Valencia Coastguard raised the alarm to Baltimore Lifeboat Station on Tuesday evening. Coxswain Ciaran Cotter and his crew of 6 from the Baltimore station, launched the lifeboat at 7:45pm stormy weather conditions. A local fishing boat had been sighted South of Goat Island in Roaring Water Bay earlier that day. The lifeboat found the wreckage of a small fishing boat on the East Calf Island. There was no sign of life on board or nearby. The helicopter was called out to assist the Tyne class lifeboat in the search and rescue for the only person on board. The operation was stood down last night at 11:30pm. and resumed again this morning at 7:45am with the assistance of local fisherman from the Schull area.

This is the first time the Baltimore Lifeboat has been called out since the beginning of 2004. A relief Tyne class lifeboat is being used in the search as the Hilda Jarrett is in Appledore Boatyard, Devon to fit a fire suppression system in the engine room. This new pyrogen system is replacing the older halogen system which is considered environmentally harmful due to its use of CFC’s and is part of ongoing upgrades in the lifeboat fleet. There is always a lifeboat available at each station in the event of a distress call. The service is crewed by volunteers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The crew of the lifeboat will be returning Hilda Jarrett to Baltimore when the weather is good enough to travel and the relief lifeboat will proceed to the next lifeboat station to permit further maintenance.

Return to Shouts 2004