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Fishing boat is escorted to shore Fishing boat is escorted to shore
(about 3 hours later)
The lifeboat service is escorting a Kilkeel fishing boat to shore after it got into difficulty on the Irish Sea. The lifeboat service has escorted a Kilkeel fishing boat to shore after it got into difficulty on the Irish Sea.
The fishing boat was 19 miles south east of Kilkeel, County Down, when it starting taking on water at about 1000 GMT on Wednesday. The Crystal Star, a prawn-trawler, was 19 miles south east of Kilkeel, County Down, when it starting taking on water at about 1000 GMT on Wednesday.
The Kilkeel lifeboat, which is now travelling alongside the fishing vessel, is helping to pump out water as it makes its way to shore. A salvage tug and rescue helicopter also assisted.
Roy Teggarty of Kilkeel lifeboat said a skipper and two crew were on board. The Kilkeel boat helped pump out the water. Roy Teggarty of the RNLI said a skipper and two crew were onboard.
"It was quite a major operation for a while. The Warrenpoint ferry and other fishing vessels in the area were on stand-by for a time," he said. "When the lifeboat reached the scene, the Crystal Star had taken in a substantial amount of water and was rolling heavily," he said.
"Its three-man crew had already donned survival suits and lifejackets in preparation to abandon the vessel.
"The swift actions of the fishing boat's crew in calling for help at the earliest opportunity and the swift response of the emergency services ensured that both the vessel and its crew were saved."
A pump from salvage tug Intrepid B was winched onto the rescue helicopter and transferred the Crystal Star by Kilkeel Lifeboat. A lifeboat crew member also boarded the fishing vessel to assist with the pumping.