An RAF Rescue Helicopter and a Lifeboat help rescue three trawlermen from a fishing trawler which had caught fire off the Northumberland coast.
The wooden trawler. Green Pastures, BH 156, was 24 miles (39km) from Amble when the coastguard’s received a mayday radio call at 1057GMT today Saturday.
The crew managed to put out the fire in the engine room using equipment on board.
The trawler, which had lost power, was towed back to Blyth Harbour.
There were no reported injuries.
RNLI All-weather lifeboats from Tynemouth and Amble and an RAF Rescuer helicopter (Rescue RAF 131) from RAF Boulmar raced to the scene.
Humber Coastguard’s said the incident could have “turned very nasty very quickly due to the boat being built of wood.
Humber Coastguard Watch Manager Graham Dawson said: “The skipper made a very clam call on the VHF Channel 16 distress frequency He gave a clear. accurate position which helped us get assistance to him quickly. His actions in closing the ventilation to the engine room and his use of dry powder fire equipment probably helped save the trawler and prevent injury to the crew”.
The coastguard added ” Incidents involving fires on wooden fishing vessels often do not end as successfully as this “.
The trawler was closely monitored after the incident for signs of the blaze re-igniting.
The Green Pastures was built for a St Monans Skipper at the world famous boat building yard of James N Miller and Sons , in St Monans, Fife for a St Monans skipper. Its Reg, number then was KY 165. The Green Pastures was sold to a Blyth Skipper in 1998 where she now works from.78
