News
RNLI lifeboats and helicopter save trawler in perilous Irish Sea operation
RNLI lifeboats from St Davids, Fishguard, Newquay, and Kilmore Quay were launched in response to a distress Mayday call from a 24-metre Irish fishing vessel, reportedly taking on water in the Irish Sea on Friday, 8 March. The vessel, with five crew members aboard, was located approximately 21 nautical miles North West of Strumble Head when HM Coastguard mobilised the Welsh RNLI stations shortly before midday.
Responding with alacrity, the all-weather lifeboats and their volunteer crews hastened towards the imperilled trawler. They were joined by the Coastguard search and rescue helicopter R936 from Caernarfon, which arrived first at the scene. The helicopter crew executed a precise operation, lowering a water pump to the fishing vessel, thereby preventing any immediate danger to the crew, who fortunately, reported no casualties. Subsequently, the New Quay lifeboat was stood down while en route due to the stabilising situation.
The St Davids Tamar class lifeboat, Norah Wortley, reached the scene at 1.10pm amid rough sea conditions, buffeted by a force five to seven Easterly wind. It was closely followed by the RNLI Fishguard Lifeboat, Trent class lifeboat Blue Peter VII, which arrived at 1.35pm. With the engine of the trawler intact and the water level onboard significantly reduced by the Coastguard’s pump, a decision was made to escort the vessel 35 nautical miles West to Ireland for safety.
This escort mission saw Kilmore Quay RNLI Tamar class lifeboat Victor Freeman, tasked by the Irish Coast Guard, joining the operation at 2.10pm, at which point the Fishguard lifeboat returned to Wales. The St Davids lifeboat continued the escort for a further 20 nautical miles West South West towards Tuskar Rock until the Kilmore Quay lifeboat took over at 3:20pm. The lifeboats returned to their respective stations by the evening, with St Davids docking at 6.00pm and Kilmore Quay shortly thereafter at 6.10pm.
Will Chant, RNLI Coxswain for St Davids RNLI lifeboat, praised the swift and efficient response of all the crews involved. “This rescue was a good, fast response from all crews, which with an incident of this nature was exactly what was required,” he remarked. The situation aboard the trawler was effectively managed with the deployment of a salvage pump from the helicopter, leading to a successful and straightforward mission to escort the vessel to safety. The crew even received ‘welcome to Ireland’ messages on their mobile phones, highlighting the considerable distance covered during the operation.
Business
Stena announces redundancy plan amid uncertainty for Pembrokeshire
FREIGHT carrier and ferry operator Stena Line, which runs services between Fishguard and Pembroke Dock, has announced plans to cut up to 80 staff members following an internal review.
Uncertainty looms over whether any of these redundancies will impact staff operating our local ferry services.
Stena CEO Paul Grant shared the news in an email to employees on Monday, citing a need to “future proof the company.” He explained that an internal assessment revealed the company’s current organisational structure as “too big and expensive” compared to its revenue.
The decision comes amid rising costs and increased competition in the freight and travel sectors.
According to Mr. Grant, “Cost pressure due to higher inflation has led to our customers having less money to spend, and with the introduction of the European Emission Trading Scheme (ETS), increasing our prices, we see a decline in volumes for both travel and freight.” Additionally, disappointing sales during the summer season and unmet market growth expectations for 2024 contributed to the restructuring.
The program, designed to strengthen Stena’s long-term business viability, includes a reduction of costs, prioritization of investments, and staff cuts that will primarily impact support functions and consultants. The workforce will be reduced by 80 positions by early 2025, along with 30 consultants also set to leave the company. Discussions with unions and work councils are expected to last several months, with all affected staff to be informed of their status by January 31, 2025.
In response to this announcement, the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) has demanded a meeting with Stena Line to clarify the impact of these cuts, particularly on their members.
TSSA General Secretary Maryam Eslamdoust expressed disappointment over the handling of the announcement, stating: “Our members are shocked by this news and outraged that Stena has chosen to sidestep established industrial relations processes. Stena must meet with us urgently to clarify who is at risk and address the potential impacts on our members.”
The layoffs are part of a broader restructuring effort aimed at securing Stena Line’s future amid sustainability challenges. CEO Niclas Mårtensson acknowledged the difficult decision, stating, “Stena Line has been a successful company over the past few years; however, we need to ensure a lower cost base to be able to future proof the company. With 40 vessels in Europe and the Mediterranean, we have significant sustainability challenges ahead of us, and this program will enable us to make necessary investments for the future.”
The TSSA’s letter to Stena reiterates the union’s commitment to supporting affected employees and calls for an immediate discussion to clarify the situation, especially for staff at Fishguard who may be impacted.
News
UK government to appoint first Wales Crown Estate Commissioner
FOR the first time, the UK government will appoint a Crown Estate Commissioner dedicated to advising on matters in Wales, further integrating Welsh interests in board-level decisions. This move supports existing efforts to ensure that Wales benefits from the push for clean energy, following an agreement facilitated by the Welsh Secretary.
An amendment to the Crown Estate Bill, with cross-party backing from Labour, Plaid Cymru, Liberal Democrats, and crossbenchers, will be accepted at today’s Lords Report Stage (Nov 5). This change mandates the appointment of a Wales-specific Commissioner through the Public Appointments process, with input from the Welsh Government. The appointee will bear “an additional responsibility” to represent Welsh conditions and interests, amplifying Wales’s voice within the Crown Estate.
Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens has collaborated with the Treasury, The Crown Estate, House of Lords members, and the Welsh Government to secure this legislative advancement. The Crown Estate, instrumental in drawing international investment to Wales, supports projects like Floating Offshore Wind in the Celtic Sea, which promises cleaner energy and job creation.
The introduction of a Wales-specific Commissioner strengthens The Crown Estate’s mission to serve the entire UK while averting potential market fragmentation and protecting international investor confidence critical to the net-zero transition.
In a related effort, Great British Energy, the government’s new public energy firm, recently partnered with The Crown Estate to expedite renewable energy advancements. This initiative could attract up to £60bn in private investment, boosting the UK’s journey toward energy independence.
Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens stated: “This is a landmark step toward ensuring that Welsh prosperity is at the heart of the government’s mission to become a clean energy superpower. Our nation stands to benefit hugely from investment in floating offshore wind, and we now have the representation we need to help seize that moment. This demonstrates how Wales benefits directly from its two governments working together, and I’m grateful to Lord Livermore, The Crown Estate, and others for helping to make this happen.”
Sir Robin Budenberg CBE, Chair of The Crown Estate, said: “In seeking to increase the number of Commissioners from eight to twelve, The Crown Estate welcomes the opportunity now presented by this amendment to bring even more direct knowledge and understanding of the areas in which we operate and further strengthen our ability to deliver benefit to the whole of the UK.”
Crime
Arrests made after large-scale cannabis operation raided in Pembroke Dock
POLICE in Pembroke Dock have uncovered yet another large-scale cannabis operation, as part of an ongoing clampdown on illegal farms in the area. On Monday (Nov 4), Dyfed-Powys Police executed a search warrant at a property on Dimond Street, where officers found over 500 cannabis plants in a sophisticated cultivation setup.
Two men, aged 26 and 34, have been arrested in connection with the investigation and are currently in police custody. The raid follows a series of similar operations in Pembrokeshire, targeting properties used for illegal drug cultivation.
(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)
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