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Disabled cargo ship now alongside in Poole

Pilsum seen to berth in the port of Poole at around 09:00 on 02 January 2018 after being assisted to sheltered anchorage in Poole Bay on 31 December 2017

Disabled cargo ship towed to Poole Bay

The "Pilsum" lost power in the afternoon of Dec 31, 2017, in the English Canal south of Weymouth, while en route from Antwerp to Truro, Cornwall. The vessel was dragging its anchor in the high winds east of Portland Bill, and drifting NE towards St Albans head. At just after 6 p.m. on Jan 1 the UK Coastguard paged Swanage Lifeboat’s Operations Manager to inform him of a situation developing south of Lulworth. The storm Dylan brought winds of up to 76mph. The Coastguards were alerted to the incident in the early evening, and Weymouth Lifeboat launched at 6.20 p.m. The tug "Kingston" (MMSI: 235013963) from Poole Harbour had been tasked to assist along with Weymouth Lifeboat. The ship was offshore but was getting ever closer to St Alban's Head. The coxswain was informed and proceeded to the lifeboat station to monitor the situation. Around an hour later with the tow still not connected and the ship closer to the shore the decision was taken to page the Swanage crew. The Swanage Lifeboat was alerted to the incident just after 6 p.m. by the Coastguard and launched the lifeboat at 7.28 p.m. A crew which had been organised to cover the New Year’s Eve period and after launching, arrived at the scene around 30 minutes later just west of St Alban's Head. The tug’s first attempt to connect a tow failed, and they were getting in position to try again. The tug got a line to the ship again but the ship’s crew failed to get the heavy tow line aboard. After about an hour and several more attempts the tug’s towline was finally connected to the ship and they slowly started to head towards Poole Bay. Weymouth lifeboat was stood down to return to station and the Swanage crew were tasked to escort the tug and ship until they reached a safe anchorage. At around 11 p.m., the tug and tow arrived at the anchorage outside of Poole Harbour, speed was reduced and the ship’s anchor dropped. On Jan 2 the vessel was pulled to Poole, where it was berthed at 10 a.m. Report with photos: http://www.maritimejournal.com/news101/tugs,-towing-and-salvage/storm-force-10-new-years-eve-tow