ANGLE All-Weather Lifeboat was requested to launch at 9:15pm on Wednesday night, 15th of January to assist a 25 meter commercial landing craft with 8 persons onboard taking water in St Brides Bay. The vessel was under tow from a tug following a grounding and salvage operation.

St David’s All-Weather Lifeboat were on scene with their salvage pump having already been transferred onboard, and Little Haven Inshore Lifeboat had also attended during the evening.

Angle Lifeboat made best speed to the area and arrived on scene 30 minutes later and soon had their salvage pump transferred onto the casualty vessel to assist with keeping the water ingress at bay.

Both lifeboats began to escort the tow but whilst west of Skomer Island, however a change of plan, and in light of the vessel still taking water a plan was made to alter course and proceed to Broad Haven Beach with a view to beach the vessel to prevent it sinking.

The lifeboats then spent the next few hours escorting the tow and providing safety cover. Upon arrival off Broad Haven, and with the tidal state not right to beach the vessel the lifeboats stood by whilst pumping efforts continued.

At 3:15am, with the situation now improving, St David’s Lifeboat was released and returned fo station. Not long after at 4am, with the water ingress now under control, Angle Lifeboat was subsequently stood down after the master confirmed he was content with the vessels condition.

Just over 3 hours before, at 5:30pm the crew were paged to assist a 10 meter pleasure vessel that had suffered electrical failure off the VPOT oil terminal on the Milford Haven waterway.

As the crew were already at station preparing to launch on exercise, the crew were soon underway and with the casualty vessel not long after.

Following a quick assessment the vessel was soon underway and with tow towards Neyland Marina.

Once off the entrance to the marina, the vessel was transferred into an alongside tow and placed safely alongside a pontoon within the marina.

With no further assistance required the lifeboat was stood down and the crew returned to their usual Wednesday night exercise.

AROUND 15% of dogs relinquished to Dogs Trust are handed over due to housing issues, highlighting the pressing need for pet-friendly rental accommodations. Recent research shows only 46% of landlords currently allow pets, a statistic Dogs Trust is determined to change.

The charity welcomed yesterday’s debate in the Senedd on the Private Rental Sector (PRS) report, as it continues to push for measures that support responsible pet ownership among renters.

The PRS report, published in October 2024 by the Senedd’s Local Government and Housing Committee, underscores the need for greater availability of pet-friendly housing in Wales. Evidence from Dogs Trust and other organizations was pivotal in shaping the report’s recommendations.

Dogs Trust, with rehoming centres in Cardiff and Bridgend, has seen the number of people in Wales surrendering their dogs due to accommodation issues rise by nearly a third in 2024.

Claire Calder, Head of Public Affairs at Dogs Trust, commented:
“We are pleased to see the issue of pet-friendly housing continue to be discussed in the Senedd. Recognising the importance of pet-friendly housing is a huge step and acknowledges that the shortage of such housing is profoundly affecting both pet owners and the pet welfare sector.

“Dogs Trust has campaigned on this issue for many years. We believe the joy of pet ownership should not be exclusive to homeowners but should also be accessible to private and social renters.

“We look forward to working with the Welsh Government to turn the Committee’s recommendations into meaningful change, ensuring more pets and their owners have a place to call home.”

While nearly half of all Welsh households share their homes with pets and a third own a dog, research by Dogs Trust and Cats Protection reveals that only 8% of rental properties in Wales are advertised as pet-friendly.

Additionally, the research found that landlords are often divided on allowing pets, with 46% permitting them. However, in more than a third of cases where pets were disallowed, the decision was based on standard templates or advice, rather than individual circumstances.

The benefits of pet-friendly policies extend beyond tenants. Allowing pets could increase tenant retention, with 26% of renters saying they would stay longer in a property if pets were allowed.

Dogs Trust has championed the cause of pet-friendly rentals through its ‘Lets with Pets’ scheme for over a decade, offering guidance to landlords, tenants, and letting agencies. For tips on finding or offering pet-friendly accommodation, visit www.letswithpets.org.uk.

FISHGUARD lifeboat crew sprang into action on Monday (Jan 13) after being alerted to a stricken fishing vessel 16 miles north-northwest of Fishguard. With six people onboard and propulsion lost, the situation demanded swift intervention by the RNLI’s dedicated volunteers.

The call came at 11:04am from HM Coastguard, who confirmed no other vessels in the area could provide assistance. Rising to the challenge, the charity’s Trent-class all-weather lifeboat, Blue Peter VII, launched into rough seas, ready to tackle the demanding conditions.

Upon reaching the fishing vessel, the crew conducted a meticulous risk assessment and determined that towing the vessel was the safest option, considering the dangerous combination of the prevailing weather and the drifting boat.

The tow, slow and arduous, lasted four hours, with Blue Peter VII safely guiding the vessel to Fishguard Harbour. Awaiting at the port were additional RNLI volunteers who secured the fishing vessel to the harbour wall.

After seven gruelling hours, the lifeboat and its crew returned to the station, where they prepared the vessel for its next call to action.

Speaking about the rescue, full-time station Coxswain Gemma Gill praised the skipper of the fishing vessel for their quick-thinking response.

“The skipper did the correct thing when realising propulsion had been lost by contacting HM Coastguard,” said Gemma. “Towing is a complex and high-risk operation, especially in challenging conditions. Our crew’s professionalism and dedication ensured a safe outcome for everyone involved.”

She added: “We carry out strict risk assessments before any tow to minimise risks to the crew, lifeboat, and those we’re rescuing. I’m incredibly proud of the team for performing this long tow under difficult circumstances.”

This marks the RNLI Fishguard’s first launch of 2025, showcasing their unwavering commitment to saving lives at sea.