What Crew Members Say About Svitzer-Caldey

On February 23, 2020, a serious incident unfolded when the Belgian trawler 'Calypso - Z84' encountered mechanical failure, resulting in a broken gearbox approximately 10.5 miles west of Trevose Head. The distress call was made as the vessel began drifting in challenging seas, with coordinates pinpointed at 50° 31' 58.2" N, 005° 21' 23.4" W. At 7:50 a.m., the Padstow RNLI lifeboat was dispatched to assist the struggling fishing vessel. Meanwhile, a second Belgian fishing vessel, the 'Soetkin', successfully established a tow to bring the 'Calypso' to Milford Haven. With the tow secured, the lifeboat crew was released and returned to their station, ensuring that the situation was under control. However, the situation took a turn when the 'Svitzer Caldey' was tasked with picking up the tow. During the process of establishing a secondary towing line, a collision occurred between the two vessels, attributed to steering issues on the tugboat. Subsequently, the tug 'Angle ALB' assumed responsibility for towing the 'Calypso' to Pembroke dock. Upon arrival, the tug 'Wilanne' facilitated the safe docking of the fishing vessel alongside berth 1. Investigations revealed that the 'Calypso' had sustained damage along its centreline. Following the incident, the trawler was safely berthed at the Milford Haven Ship Repairers North Yard for urgent repairs at 2:50 a.m. the next day, February 24. The 'Svitzer Caldey' docked shortly after at 3:50 a.m. This incident highlights the challenges faced by maritime rescue operations and the importance of prompt and skilled response from lifeboat services in navigating adverse conditions. For more details, see the full report with photographs at Cornwall Live.