FV ELEGANCE PD33

General information

Course/Position

Latest news

Trawler grounded in Tyne

The Tynemouth RNLI inshore and all weather lifeboats were launched in the early morning of Feb 7, 2020, after the 'Elegance - PD 33', 163 gt, ran aground on the Black Middens rocks inside the Tyne harbour just after leaving the ice station. The skipper radioed for assistance after his vessel had suffered gearbox failure whilst sailing out of the harbour, leaving him unable to avoid the rocks. The Humber Operations Centre of the Coastguard requested the launch of the RNLI lifeboats at 05:20 a.m. and they rushed to the scene which was 0,25 miles from the lifeboat station. Once on scene the volunteer lifeboat crew members ensured the crew of the stranded fishing vessel was uninjured and in no immediate danger before the crew of the lifeboat 'Spirit of Northumberland' attached a towing rope to the guard ship. Several attempts were made to pull the vessel from the rocks but the tide was falling and it proved impossible to free it. After consulting with the skipper of the vessel a decision to leave it where it was until the next high tide when another attempt will be made to refloat it and tow it to safety. The fishermen were in no danger and remained on board, and the lifeboat crews stood by for an hour to ensure the vessel was stable and not going to roll over as the tide fell. Members of the Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade also kept watch from shore. The lifeboats then returned to station and launched again at 10:15 a.m. After a rope was attached to the trawler it was pulled clear of the rocks and towed the short distance to safety at North Shields Fish Quay while the inshore lifeboat followed as a precaution. Reports with photos and video: https://rnli.org/news-and-media/2020/february/07/fishing-vessel-runs-aground-on-infamous-black-midden-rocks https://www.facebook.com/itvtynetees/videos/504659663766139/