A BROKEN down fishing vessel off the Isle of Wight was helped by the crew of Sandown and Shanklin Independent Lifeboat this morning (Tuesday).
The crew was called to assist by Solent Coastguard shortly before 10am, after the fishing vessel got into difficulty a mile off Yaverland, with two people on board.
The lifeboat crew surveyed the boat, made repairs and managed to get it running again.
The vessel was then escorted by the crew as far as Bembridge Ledge, before the lifeboat returned to the station and the fishing vessel made its way back to Wootton Creek.
Operations manager, Mark Birch, said: "We find sometimes if we can get a boat fixed and re-started, it saves us time. It means we do not have to do long tows and we are able to stay in our area for other emergencies, especially as this is our busiest time of the year."
Reporter: jamiew@iwcpmail.co.uk