Fishermen rescued from sinking boat

London, 2 April/GNN/ --

MARITIME AND COASTGUARD AGENCY News Release (Press Notice: 59/09) issued by COI News Distribution Service on 2 April 2009

At 12:55 pm today Belfast Coastguard received a 999 called from the JENEMI, a 10 metre fishing boat that had lost all power and was sinking about approximately eight miles east of the entrance to Strangford Lough.

The Portaferry Coastguard Rescue Team and Portaferry RNLI Inshore Lifeboats were called to assist the two crew members. Unfortunately the JENEMI sank quickly and the crew had to take to their life-raft, from where they were rescued and brought ashore by the RNLI lifeboat.

Alan Pritchard, Watch Manager at Belfast Coastguard said:

"It's fortunate that the crew of the JENEMI had a life-raft that they could use when they needed to abandon ship.

"I'd recommend all small fishing boats to carry life-rafts and or emergency beacons so that in the event of an emergency at sea the crew can safely abandon ship and will be located quickly".