Reaching the 10m Shaligar, the RNLI volunteer crew found that the Shaligar’s skipper had managed to stem the leak and pump out the flooded engine room, and any danger to the boat and her crew seemed to have been averted. A rescue helicopter from RAF Boumer, Northumberland, that had also been tasked to assist the rescue bid was then stood down.
As a precaution, The RNLI lifeboat then escorted ‘Shaligar’ back to her home port at North Shields, without further incident.
Adrian Don, spokesman for Tynemouth RNLI lifeboat station, said: “This incident was treated with the highest priority as there was a severe risk of the ‘Shaligar’ sinking.
“Thankfully her crew managed to stop the flooding but the RNLI lifeboat and six volunteer crewmembers escorted her to safety as a precaution against the same problem happening again.
