Asthore rises.

Over Falmouth way in Penryn, the Asthore is beginning to take shape while she is fitted out......

with her wheelhouse and foremast.......

the exhaust for the for'ard engine can clearly be seen coming up through the whaleback.

Sparkling Line breaks down and gets towed to Newlyn.

The Newlyn netter, Govenek of Ladram is towing the new Padstow registered netter, Sparkling Line to Newlyn after she developed a problem with a broken fuel pipe.The Sparkling Line is the latest addition to the Plymouth based Waterdance fleet and is currently on her maiden trip.

Sparkling Line enters through the gaps under tow from the harbour 'tug'boat.

Monday's quality market - 2001st post!

A hazy start to the morning with the sun just beginning to burn through the fog.....

a day on the pots for top crabber man Francis.........

plenty of quality fish from a wide range of inshore boats to show off to a visiting group........

with most of the auction full of fish........

there was plenty to see..........

and signs of a few elusive mackerel........

and top quality pollack from the Sea Spray.

It's Summer Time!

 As the time springs forward the Scillonian's springs steady her..........

 on her way in through the gaps of Penzance's wet dock........ 

 before putting the ends ashore so that Brixham beamer, Carhelmar can land to a waiting lorry.......

 must have been something he said.........

making good use of the file weather to finish the paint job on the ex-crabber, Steren Va Bro.

For Sale

For sale: Classic wooden yacht
Penzance Dock - Tel 07790 089298

In the haze.

The main engine aboard THV Patricia gets fired up ready for the off..........

the Anglian Princess she is about to pass may not be on standby in the Bay for much longer if the proposed changes to the emergency cover system go through as planned and the service is handed out to tender......

a small fresh water outfall runs into the Bay.......

over in Newlyn, the Morlaix trawler, Vierge de l'Ocean has ice making machine problems so tops up with the best Cornish Ice......

as 'le Patron' Sennen basks in the sunshine........

the boss enjoys one of the perks of the trade, fresh morue.

Some of the guys are a fair few miles off to the South'ard.

VesselTracker's AIS screen shot shows just how far south some of the boats work from Newlyn. Of course, the Breton guys reciprocate and often steam north of Land'sEnd before they dip their gear in the water. 

Sheryll Murray's husband, Neil dies at sea aboard his trawler, Our Boy Andrew.

Our Boy Andrew, skippered by Looe fisherman Neil Murray.
Photo courtesy of Martin Johns, Plymouth.

Two incidents, 500 miles apart, in the last 24 hours have once again highlighted the need to continue local not central Coastguard services.

Earlier today, the body of MP Sheryll Murray's husband has been brought ashore after his vessel, Our Boy Andrew was reported overdue on Thursday evening. Ironically, yesterday evening, Mrs Murray was speaking in the Commons at the start of the debate when she declared a 'special interest' to the house in that her husband, a commercial fisherman and all those who worked on the sea owed a special debt to the Coastguard Service, the National Coastwatch Institution, RNLI and all those agencies that looked after the safety of seafarers. She cannot have imagined at the time how appropriate those words were to be in the circumstances.

The MCA immdiately launched an investigation into the incident.

Meanwhile, in Cumbria today during the Aquila tragedy (with the loss of three men)enquiry, it has come to light that at the start of the search for the missing vessel  there was some confusion over the exact location of the vessel - this was quickly resolved - but a chilling reminder of just how easily this sort of confusion can turn what might be a problem into a disaster through wasting time and resources - having a centralised co-ordination centre with no local knowledge could have dire consequences when lifeboats and SAR services need to be given accurate information.

Video extracted from MCA safety podcasts - see the whole series here on their YouTube Channel.

Neil Murray appeared in an MCA safety video targeting the wearing of lifesavers by fishermen - in particular those who worked single handed. 

Updated article in the Plymouth Herald with comments from fellow fishermen including Fishing News journalist, Phil Lockley.