Too dangerous to try to save paddle steamer – RNLI
APADDLER steamer sank off the Welsh coast as it was being transported to Ireland. The MV Oliver Cromwell, a steamer and riverboat hotel, sank around 12 miles off the coast of Holyhead on Friday.
Holyhead Coastguard said they were called at around 2pm to reports of the incident, but they could not do anything to prevent the boat sinking around three hours later.
The boat, which was built in 1922 and converted into a riverboat hotel in 1993, was en route to Coleraine after being sold to a new owner.
Nobody was injured and the coastguard said the sinking did not cause any pollution, the Daily Post reports.
The RNLI was also called out to assist with the operation.
A RNLI spokesman said: “The call from UK Coastguard at 2.20pm cited a paddle steamer on tow towards Ireland taking on water approximately 10 miles west of South Stack.
“Holyhead’s Severn-class allweather lifeboat Christopher Pearce launched immediately and headed to the scene, arriving there within 40 minutes.
“On arriving at the scene, it was evident the 36m vessel was in trouble and beginning to sink from the bow.
“She was being towed by tug towards Ireland after a period in the south of England.”
The crew found that the paddle steamer did not have anyone on board and did not contain any fuel.
The spokesman added: “A very quick decision was made by the coxswain that the situation was too dangerous to try and put any crew on board the stricken vessel.
“Within half an hour, the vessel had sunk further into the sea, and at 4.20pm she sank completely into the 50m-deep waters.”
Holyhead coxswain Tony Price said: “It was very sad to see such a lovely vessel sink like that, but fortunately no-one was endangered and the lack of fuel on board meant there were no environmental issues.”
The steamer had been moored in Gloucester Docks before being sold and moved towards Ireland.