WEATHER CAUSES FISHING VESSELS TO DRIFT IN FISHGUARD

Severe weather has caused four fishing vessels and a yacht to break from their moorings in Fishguard Harbour today.

The first report of a fishing vessel that had broken its moorings was received by Milford Haven Coastguard at just before 7 this morning when the northeasterly wind was gusting to gale force 9 /10. The fishing vessel ‘Pisces’ had been moored near the inner breakwater at Fishguard Harbour and had broken free. A crew member from the ‘Cariad M’ boarded the vessel and managed to restart the engine and take it to a safe place.

The Coastguard then received four further calls about fishing vessels that had broken free from moorings including the vessel ‘Jay-C’ that was beached near the Seaview Hotel, Fishguard. The ‘Euroclydon’ broke down when it was leaving its moorings in the harbour. It was swept on to the rocks. The ‘Megan M’ used their RHIB the ‘Cariad M’ to get a line aboard the ‘Euroclydon’ until the Fishguard RNLI all-weather lifeboat could reach the scene and tow the ‘Euroclydon’ to safety.

The lifeboat then checked the other moorings in the harbour and reported the fishing vessel ‘Helen D’ as missing from her mooring. She was subsequently found wrecked on the shoreline of Fishguard Harbour. The ‘Cariad M’ then came to the assistance of the yacht ‘Coral Wind’ who had been anchored in the harbour and had come adrift.

Mike Rogers, Milford Haven Watch Manager said:
“I’d like to thank the ‘Megan M’ and the ‘Cariad M’ for coming to the assistance of vessels in the harbour today in extremely challenging conditions. Their work was a reflection of true maritime spirit.”

-Ends-

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