Gwynt y Môr WFSV Comes to the Rescue

Wind farm support vessel (WFSV) Windcat 3 has assisted in the rescue of a casualty vessel nearby the Gwynt y Môr wind farm offshore Rhyl, the UK.

Windcat 3 responded to an all ships broadcast call in the morning of 7 July when the starter motor of a speedboat preparing to return from fishing seized.

Four stranded persons could not start the casualty vessel by alternative means and were unsuccessful at contacting the UK coastguard at Holyhead via the VHF radio, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) said.

A 999 call was then made and the volunteers of Rhyl lifeboat station were paged, after which Windcat 3 came to the rescue to prevent the casualty vessel from drifting into the Gwynt y Môr wind farm area.

The casualty vessel was towed back to Rhyl and met up with All-weather lifeboat about six miles to the north of the harbor.

According to RNLI, it was a race against time to get the vessel back with enough water in the harbor to be recovered on the slipway since the tide was going out. To aid the speed and to move in the shallow water, the inshore lifeboat from Rhyl was launched, and towed the casualty vessel from the outer harbor to the slipway.

“The party were well-equipped with all the necessary safety equipment, but the range of the VHF radio was not very great. We are thankful to the skipper and crew of the windfarm supply vessel ‘Windcat 3’ for assisting to get the casualty away from danger,” said Martin Jones, Coxswain of Rhyl lifeboat.