Tugboat Crew Rescues Fire-Stricken Trawler Off Maine Coast

A tugboat crew from McAllister Towing’s Portland Tugboat recently undertook a challenging rescue mission to tow in a fire-stricken trawler that had been abandoned off the coast of Maine. The 81-foot fishing vessel Three Girls had been adrift since August 11 after a fire forced its crew to evacuate. The U.S. Coast Guard rescued the six people on board, but the trawler was left ablaze and adrift at sea. Captain Brian Fournier of Portland Tugboat was called in for assistance and enlisted an experienced crew to tow the burning vessel back to shore.

Locating the trawler proved to be a difficult task for the crew of the Nancy McAllister, with the tug and crew departing at 9 p.m. on August 12 and finally meeting up with the burning trawler at 11 a.m. on August 13. The crew faced challenges in hooking up a tow line to the burning vessel, with large outriggers and chains making it difficult to get close to the trawler. Despite the obstacles, the crew managed to tamp down the fire and secure the tow line, ensuring the safe return of the vessel to shore.

The next 24 hours were equally demanding for the crew as they battled 4-foot waves and suppression efforts to keep the fire under control. Upon arriving in Portland on the morning of August 14, the crew successfully docked the burning trawler with the assistance of another tug, the Andrew McAllister. Captain Fournier praised the crew for their exemplary performance, professionalism, and determination in preventing a potential navigation hazard in the North Atlantic.

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