Fishing boat aground off Teignmouth

rbcoomer

rbcoomer

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BBC Spotlight reporting the 'Girl Rona' aground and capsized off Teignmouth. Crew safe and efforts to right her and tow her in underway. Seems there is some diesel spill, but she's loaded with catch and around 2000 gallons of diesel. Hopefully all will end well - will post a link when I find one...
 
Let's hope the damage and bill isn't too big. From the Spotlight pictures it looked like it was near the bar at the harbour entrance - nasty spot in an Easterly, but at least close to help. I think they said at the end of the news that the vessel was now secured, but typically the phone rang and I missed the important bit... Nothing on the BBC Devon website when I looked, but they said they'd be further updates at 8pm and 10pm news. Pretty sure there were no casualties, so in my book that's a good outcome!
 
rbcoomer said:
Let's hope the damage and bill isn't too big. From the Spotlight pictures it looked like it was near the bar at the harbour entrance - nasty spot in an Easterly, but at least close to help. I think they said at the end of the news that the vessel was now secured, but typically the phone rang and I missed the important bit... Nothing on the BBC Devon website when I looked, but they said they'd be further updates at 8pm and 10pm news. Pretty sure there were no casualties, so in my book that's a good outcome!
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Caught a bit on Radio Cornwall, thought they said fishing boat sunk, and lifeboat damaged in rescue, but all safe.

Have to wait and see.

Brian
 
halcyon said:
Caught a bit on Radio Cornwall, thought they said fishing boat sunk, and lifeboat damaged in rescue, but all safe.

Have to wait and see.

Brian
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No, not sunk, it's on a sandbar just outside the entrance to the harbour. HM says it's now upright and hope to recover it soon.
 
Following LJS's link, the boat does indeed appear righted, but still there.

Interestingly what appears to be the marker buoy seems mid-channel going by the breakers? I wonder if the sand banks shifting has caught them out perhaps? Given it's a local boat I'd have thought they'd be only too aware of the sand bar otherwise. Screenshot at 4:45pm.
 
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Oh dear - back to square one and there appears to be diesel loss too going by the sheen on the water around the vessel. Looks like it requires some salvage buoyancy around her to maintain aspect whilst they pump her out? Wonder if the tug's still there - not in the frame anymore. :(
 
rbcoomer said:
Oh dear - back to square one and there appears to be diesel loss too going by the sheen on the water around the vessel. Looks like it requires some salvage buoyancy around her to maintain aspect whilst they pump her out? Wonder if the tug's still there - not in the frame anymore. :(
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I was in Teignmouth today around high water, boat is back on its side with the waves breaking right over it. It was pretty rough, no chance of anyone doing anything in those waves. The harbour authorities are now bringing in a professional salvage team. Did not see any obvious signs of diesel leaking.
 
My boat is moored on a trot one up from Girl Rona's spot in Teignmouth harbour. There isn't a better cared-for boat or harder working crew anywhere. I hate to think what they're going through.

This morning (Thursday) the trawler was still on her side about half-way along the channel going into the Teign. The Harbour Commission and RNLI have tried to recover her, but although they managed to right her and pump some water out, the waves simply knocked her over again. We've had fresh easterlies for several days now, which always makes Teignmouth entrance tough. It's due to continue for a couple more days, plus the tide is going to neaps, which makes refloating more difficult (although at least the tidal streams won't be as fierce as they can be in the channel). Originally the boat settled at about 50 degrees over, but since the recovery attempts, it appears to have moved and is now lying further on her side. I imagine that with the boat in that position, it's unsafe for shipping to enter the port at the moment.

From what I understand, the boat was hit by a freak wave while it was coming into the port. With the wave direction, this probably lifted the stern and meant that the skipper lost steerage briefly. The boat was pushed onto a sandbank, then rolled part-way over by the waves. Teignmouth's Atlantic 85 lifeboat recovered the 5 crew from the superstructure, though they had the breakers from the easterly winds to content with. They know what they're doing, though (I admit they've pulled me off the beach at the same spot in the same conditions once before).

The harbour commission have now engaged a locally-based salvage company, who can call on heavier gear to recover Girl Rona. I just hope and pray that this ends well for the crew and everyone involved in the salvage.
 
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