Crew Walk to Safety After Survey Vessel Grounds on a Pebble Beach in UK

 

On Tuesday night, a small survey vessel ran aground off the coast of Newgale, UK while working on a telecom line project, forcing the crew to abandon ship onto the beach. 

At about 1830 hours Tuesday, HM Coastguard received a distress call from the landing / survey craft MTS Terramare, which was in distress off Newgale. The vessel had lost power in one engine while operating close to the beach, and in rough surf, it could not maintain its heading. It ran aground broadside to the shore, and waves began washing over the working deck. Bright arcs from an apparent electrical short on deck were reported by bystanders. 

Courtesy St Davids RNLI

The St. Davids RNLI lifeboat was dispatched to assist, and it made top speed to Newgale. The crew of the Terramare requested salvage pumps to dewater their vessel, but in the rough surf there was no way to carry out a transfer, even with smaller launches. The responders considered running a towline, but because of the relative size of the Terramare compared to the RNLI response boats and the hazards of the situation, they decided not to attempt a salvage tow. 

The vessel’s crew were unharmed, and since the Terramare was nearly high and dry, they were able to step down onto the pebble beach and walk away. At this point the RNLI responders concluded their mission and returned to station, arriving at berth after 2000 hours. 

"The RNLI mission is to save lives at sea, and we endeavor to save boats if possible, but it is beyond our remit to salvage," said Will Chant, coxswain for the St Davids RNLI lifeboat. "In this instance, the size of vessel and its position broadside to the beach compromised a tow, therefore once assured the crew were safe ashore, there was nothing further our lifeboats could do."

Courtesy RNLI