UPDATED: Cowes RNLI and Coastguard crews have responded to a sunken boat on the River Medina this morning (Wednesday).
The volunteer crew of Cowes Lifeboat were tasked to launch at 07:05 at the request of Solent Coastguard after a vessel sunk near to Medina Wharf.
Coastguard teams from Bembridge and Newport were also tasked to the incident.
UPDATE @ 10:05 – The vessel, a 60ft trawler converted into a houseboat, has become almost completely submerged with just the stern now visible.
As both the lifeboat and the Cowes harbour launch raced to the scene, they encountered a lot of floating debris from the vessel, including cans and buoys. As the harbour launch began retrieving the items the lifeboat continued on to the trawler, which had only part of its wheelhouse well above water.
Concerned that someone was trapped on board the trawler, the crew banged on the visible windows but did not get any response. Then after noting that the starboard door was padlocked and then being informed that the ship’s tender was moored at East Cowes, the crew concluded that no-one was aboard after all.
Having ascertained that no persons were in danger, Cowes RNLI returned to station at 07:30 and Coastguard crews were stood down shortly after 08:00.
To protect the river from any escaping oil, Cowes Harbour Launch has surrounded the vessel with a boom.
