A Spanish fishing vessel with 17 crew on board was due to be towed into port last night after its engines failed in the early hours of yesterday morning south to south-west of Achill, Co Mayo. .
The British-registered Slebech II requested assistance from the Irish Coast Guard at about 3 a.m. when its engines failed in gale-force southerly winds and heavy seas. However, conditions were too bad for the Coast Guard helicopter from Shannon to winch off 12 of the crew, as had been requested by the skipper
Weather conditions moderated, however, and the skipper said that he no longer required an evacuation.
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