Press Notice No: 004-13
Monday, January 14, 2013
Posted 01:42 GMT

Eight crew members have been taken off a tug boat a mile off Hopes Nose near Torbay after it began taking on water when it was struck by a vessel it was towing.

Brixham Coastguard has been coordinating the rescue operation after the collision happened just after 7pm on Sunday (13 January).

The RNLI Torbay all-weather lifeboat and the Exmouth all-weather lifeboat were sent to the scene, along with the local harbour tug from Brixham, the Royal Navy vessels HMS Lancaster and HMS Severn, the RAF search and rescue helicopter from Chivenor and the Torbay Coastguard Rescue Team.

Efforts are now being made to keep the tug afloat with a salvage crew from the Royal Navy on board, and pumps in use to try to control the water level.

Posted By: Joanne Rawlings

For further details contact:
The Maritime & Coastguard Agency Press Office
023 8032 9401