Angle RNLI lifeboat in major alert to fishing vessel fire

Angle RNLI’s all weather lifeboat was alerted in the early hours of Tuesday morning (April 24), after a report that a vessel was on fire at Neyland in the Milford Haven Waterway.

The searchlight from Angle RNLI’s all weather lifeboat illuminates the scene below the Cleddau Bridge as the Milford Haven Port Authority’s pilot boat fights the fire on board the fishing vessel. Credit: Angle RNLI

The Tamar class lifeboat Mark Mason was launched at 12.38am and on her way to the scene it was reported that the vessel, a 10m commercial fishing boat, was adrift. A Milford Haven Port Authority pilot boat, Broad Haven and Dale Coastguard units, the Fire Service and Police had also been alerted.

When the lifeboat arrived on the scene, the fishing vessel was beneath the Cleddau Bridge and was well alight. While the pilot boat used her firefighting equipment to extinguish the blaze, the lifeboat and Coastguard units carried out a shoreline search, which confirmed that no one was reported missing.

With the fire extinguished the fishing vessel was taken in tow back to Neyland by a Fire Service rescue boat. During the tow a small fire ignited on board the fishing vessel and RNLI volunteers used the lifeboat’s firefighting pump to extinguish the blaze to ensure the safety of the boat making the tow.

Once the fishing vessel was secured alongside the pontoon at Neyland by the Fire Service rescue boat, and everything was made safe, the lifeboat was stood down at 3.15am. She then returned to Angle lifeboat station, where she was rehoused just after 3.40am.

The scene at the pontoon at Neyland is illuminated by Angle RNLI’s all weather lifeboat after the Fire Service rescue boat had towed in the fishing vessel. Credit: Viv Grey/Little and Broad Haven RNLI