Fourteen crew members were safely rescued after a French fishing vessel ran aground near Dingle on Sunday morning. The 28-metre bottom trawler Fastnet, registered in France and owned by a Spanish company, lost engine power shortly after departing Dingle Harbour.

Strong winds and heavy swells quickly pushed the vessel onto the rocky shoreline between Dingle Lighthouse and Binn Bán beach, prompting a large-scale search and rescue operation.

The Irish Coast Guard’s Valentia Marine Rescue Sub-centre received a distress call at around 11:30 a.m. and coordinated the response, sending several rescue units to the scene.

These included the Shannon-based helicopter Rescue 115, the fixed-wing aircraft Rescue 120F, the Valentia RNLI all-weather lifeboat, and the Dingle Coast Guard unit. Local response boats and the Navy patrol vessel George Bernard Shaw also assisted.

Video Credits: Irish Coast Guard/Facebook

Attempts by lifeboat crews and local boats to tow the trawler to safety were unsuccessful due to rough seas and shallow near-shore waters, leaving an airlift as the only viable option.

Despite difficult conditions, Rescue 115 winched all 14 crew members to safety in two lifts. The crew were brought ashore and are undergoing medical checks by the National Ambulance Service. No injuries have been reported.

Traces of diesel have been spotted near the grounded vessel, raising concerns about possible damage to the hull. The Irish Coast Guard said it will continue to monitor the Fastnet amid ongoing stormy conditions to mitigate any environmental risk.

The rescue operation was praised for the swift and coordinated efforts of all Coast Guard units, RNLI crews, and local teams involved.

References: corkbeo, clareherald