Fouled propeller stops Northern Star On Sunday. 12 August, Bantry Coast Guard Radio received a request for assistance from the fishing trawler Northern Star. She had a fouled propeller and was unable to free herself. The Castletownbere Arur class lifeboat Floy and Barbara Harding launched at 4.32pm. On board were coxswain Brian O'Driscoll, mechanic Brendan Connelly, second coxswain Mick Martin-Sullivan, second mechanic Marney O'Donoghue and crew members Paul Stevens and James Murphy.

The lifeboat reached the casualty after two hours and passed a towline across. She started to tow the 25m, 160 tonne trawler towards safety. However, after 40 minutes, the crew of the fishing boat alerted the lifeboat crew that the rope and net that had been fouling the propeller had come free. Under careful observation from the lifeboat crew, the trawler captain started the engines and engaged the tail shaft. Everything was found to be operating correctly so the lifeboat released its tow and headed back to Castletownbere..