Crew rescued and skipper arrested after 60-ton boat runs aground

The boat could be refloated at high tide (Pic: Fleetwood Beach Kiosk)

Five men were rescued '“ and one arrested '“ after their fishing boat ran aground near Fleetwood Docks in the early hours of this morning.

RNLI volunteers launched from the town’s lifeboat station at around 2.20am, collecting the men and returning to shore.

The 60-ton vessel’s skipper, a 45-year-old man from York, was arrested on suspicion of being drunk in charge of a boat – or ‘being a master pilot or seaman on duty while over the prescribed limit of alcohol’, police said.

Tony Cowell, from the RNLI, said the boat is stuck on a sandback known locally as Tiger’s Tail and, although it is leaning, is in no real danger of overturning.

Police arrested the 60-ton fishing boat's skipper after it ran aground close to Fleetwood docks in the early hours of the morning

But he said: “If she was on the other side of the river she would have done.

“She is on a slight angle and we were concerned about the fuel, but we contacted the crew and made sure they switched all the valves off.”

The blue and red boat was on its way out of the docks when it ran aground, Mr Cowell said.

Volunteers are now on standby to refloat the stricken boat at high tide, as long as a new skipper can be found, he added.

The trawler's location, shown on MarineTraffic.com

MarineTraffic.com, which allows internet users to live track ships and boats, shows its current location (pictured), and said its name is Corentine.

It was based in Jersey until it was sold in 2015, moved to Fleetwood, and kitted out for fishing, it is understood.

The boat’s captain remains in custody, and is due to be questioned by officers.