Complete Maritime Profile & Reviews of Tahume

On March 3, 2018, at 8 p.m., the fishing vessel 'Tahume' experienced a loss of engine power while situated at coordinates 54° 44' 11.4" N, 05° 28' 55.2" W, approximately 2.5 nautical miles north-east of Mew Island. The Bangor Coastguard Rescue Team (CRT) and the Donaghadee RNLI's all-weather lifeboat 'Saxon' were dispatched at the request of the Belfast Coastguard. The lifeboat launched promptly at 8:12 p.m. Despite facing challenging sea conditions characterized by a strong easterly wind making force 5-7 and a swell of 2-3 meters, the dedicated volunteer crew successfully established a tow line with the 'Tahume' around 8:47 p.m. Given the vessel's size and the prevailing weather, it was determined that towing the disabled trawler to the safety of Belfast Harbour was the best course of action. Progress was initially hindered due to the flood tide, but once the lifeboat passed Mew Island and entered Belfast Lough, it could achieve a steady speed of approximately 5.5 knots. Near the Fairway Buoy in Belfast Lough, the lifeboat rendezvoused with the pilot boat 'Michael Evans', where a harbor pilot boarded the 'Tahume'. Subsequently, in the Victoria channel, an alongside tow was instituted with the port tug 'Sally McLoughlin', allowing the lifeboat to recover their towline. The tug then safely guided the trawler into port. The search and rescue operations concluded at 1 a.m. on March 4. Before this incident, the 'Tahume' had departed from Santa Eugenia de Riveira on February 26, carrying a crew of 18. The Belfast Coastguard maintained direct communication with the vessel's agents throughout the operation. For further details and photos, visit the official RNLI report.