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Tanker assisted fishing vessel
The Selsey Lifeboat had their first tasking of 2026 on Jan 5. The UK Coastguard received multiple Mayday DSC (Digital Selective Calling) transmissions. The position of the fishing vessel sending the DSC was approximately 16 nautical miles south from Selsey Bill. The fishing vessel had earlier contacted the Coastguard requesting assistance after the vessel had suffered complete electrical failure in the same area close to the shipping lanes. The Coastguard had been broadcasting a Securite message alerting other vessels to the fishing vessels position. Soon after the broadcast had gone out, the fishing vessel's main radio exhausted its power supply and the hand held radio was not powerful enough to call the Coastguard, so the fishing boat skipper decided to activate the DSC alert. The Selsey Shannon class all-weather lifeboat (ALB) launched at 10.06 p.m. and made best speed to the area. The Coastguard also requested the launch of Bembridge ALB and the Coastguard Helicopter Rescue 375 due to the uncertainty of the origin of the DSC alert. The 'Askholmen', enroute from IJmuiden to Eastham, also responded to the DSC alert and was the first vessel to contact the fishing vessel. The Rescue 375 arrived on scene at 10.35 p.m. and the Selsey ALB arrived on scene at 10.49pm. The Selsey ALB came alongside the fishing vessel, and after confirming all the occupants were well, they conveyed the MMSI on the hand held radio to the Coastguard, who were happy there was only one vessel in distress, so stood down the R375 and the Bembridge ALB. At 10.59 p.m. a line was passed to the fishing vessel, and a tow was established towards Chichester Harbour entrance 20nm to the northeast. The weather on scene was wind northerly force 2-3, the sea state smooth, and the visibility good. Once the harbour was reached the tow was shortened for the passage up to Itchenor where the fishing vessel was safely berthed alongside on Jan 6 at 3.35 a.m. The ALB arrived back at station at 4.43 a.m. and was recovered straight away.
Engine repair completed
The "Hellespont Charger", which had been docked in the inner port of Brunsbüttel following an engine damage on Feb 14, 2014, resumed its voyage on Feb 27 towards Rotterdam. The vessel had been disabled whilst coming from Kaliningrad and having transited the Kiel Canal westbound. The tug "Arion" pulled it from Ostermoor towards the Brunsbüttel locks and entered the locks at 2.40 p.m.
Tanker in tow to Shannon
The British tug "Thrax" has taken in tow the "Hellespont Charger" which had suffered an engine failure on Jan 12 and was adrift in the Atlantic Ocean 100 miles west of Ireland. The tanker was now been towed to Shannon, where it was expected to arrive in the evening of Jan 14. Weather conditions in the area were not favourable with six-foot waves and wind force eight. Also the "LÉ Aisling" of the Irish Navy reached the tanker in the early hours of the morning and was accompanying the tow to port.
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