Update: 12:00pm
The 'Lily B' currently passing through Passage East. The cargo ship is currently being tugged, and the operation resumed at 9am this morning. Photo Credit: Bobby Cox#WLRNews pic.twitter.com/KJx4ixyRMc
— WLR (@wlrfm) October 21, 2020
A large scale operation to recover a cargo vessel drifting off the Waterford coast will continue at 9am this morning.
The scale of the effort to recover the Lily B has not been seen in Waterford in many years.
RNLI lifeboat crews from Dunmore East, Kilmore Quay and Rosslare Harbour were launched after reports that the 4,000-tonne cargo vessel had lost all power and was in danger of hitting rocks south of Hook Head in Wexford. The cargo vessel with a crew of nine onboard, was carrying coal when it lost power and came within a half a nautical mile of coming ashore on the Hook. The vessel had anchored in the Port of Waterford and was en route to New Ross.
The Coast Guard helicopter from Waterford, Rescue 117 was also tasked, monitoring from overhead and ready to assist with the evacuation of the crew if needed.
In force eight conditions, Dunmore East and Kilmore Quay RNLI established tow lines onto the drifting vessel which was then very close to the rocks. The two lifeboats maintained the tow and kept the cargo ship away from shore while a tug was en route from Waterford. Rosslare RNLI stood by.
Battling strong waves over six metres high, the three lifeboat crews worked together to ensure the cargo vessel stayed away from the rocks until the tow was passed to the tug from Waterford - the Tramontane - on its arrival at 5.40pm. Escorting the vessels until they reached the calmer waters of Waterford Harbour in the early hours of Wednesday the lifeboat crews were eventually stood down and returned to station.
Captain Darren Doyle Harbour Master of the Port of Waterford said the conditions were very difficult:
"The drift was heading towards Hook Head but due to the professionalism of the lifeboat crews, they attached a number of tow lines and guided the vessel to the east of hook ahead until the tug boat arrived that evening".
Captain Doyle said fears the tug made progress towards Waterford harbour but fears that the tow lines would 'part' resulted in the decision being made to drop anchor in the port limits overnight. He said as it turned out that was the right decision:
"About an hour and a half later the tow line parted and the vessel would potentially have blocked the navigational channel in the harbour and run aground. Bear in mind the crew were extremely tired aswell and fatigue was setting in so we had to bear that in mind aswell".
Speaking on the callout Rosslare RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager David Maloney said:
"If it wasn’t for the work of the three lifeboat crews out in force eight conditions I fear the vessel would have hit the rocks and there could have been a serious loss of life. The 4,000-tonne vessel came within a half a mile of the shore and Dunmore East and Kilmore Quay lifeboat crews had an incredibly difficult job in keeping it away from the rocks.
‘The seas were huge, and it would not have been pleasant for anyone out there in those conditions. The lifeboat crews were out for over twelve hours in a callout that involved serious skill and concentration and I am tremendously proud of all three lifeboat crews involved. Thankfully we did not have a tragedy today."
