UK Tugboat in Trouble: Crew Taken Off

Eight crew members have been taken off a flooding tug boat a mile off Hope’s Nose, Torbay, on the south-west coast of England.

The UK's Maritime and Coastguard Agency reports that the tugboat began taking water after it collided with the vessel on tow.

Nearby Brixham Coastguard has been coordinating the rescue operation after the collision in the dark on Sunday evening.

The RNLI Torbay all-weather lifeboat and the Exmouth all-weather lifeboat were sent to the scene, along with a local harbour tug from Brixham, the Royal Navy vessels HMS Lancaster and HMS Severn, the RAF search and rescue helicopter from Chivenor and the Torbay Coastguard Rescue Team.

Efforts are being made to keep the tug afloat with a salvage crew from the Royal Navy on board, equipped with pumps.