Falmouth Coastguard were alerted at 7.40a.m on 1 January 2001 by the Irish Valentia Coastguard Radio Station that they had picked up a call for help from the crew of the British registered fishing vessel `Pembroke'. The crew reported that the vessel had suffered rudder damage, had stopped in the water, and required assistance 180 miles west of the Scilly Islands.

Falmouth Coastguard were passed the call as the position of the boat given by the crew fell within the search and rescue region covered by the UK, and the Coastguard began full broadcast action asking for assistance from any nearby vessels. A short while later the status of the emergency changed as the crew reported that they were taking in water and needed help and pumps as quickly as possible.

Rescue helicopter R193 was scrambled from the Royal Naval Air Station at Culdrose at 8:30 a.m. and a second helicopter was also scrambled at the same time. An RAF Nimrod aircraft - to provide top cover - was also launched from RAF Kinloss in Scotland.

Mick Quinn, Watch Manager at Falmouth Coastguard said, " The Nimrod aircraft should arrive above the vessel at about 10: 30a.m. this morning with the helicopters about an hour later. The crew are a mix of Spanish and Ghanaian nationals and we are in communication with them via Valentia Radio. At the moment we do not know how the vessel sustained the damage, but locally there are rough seas and the vessel - a sidewinder with a crew of 13 has stopped in the water in gale 8 winds. No injuries have been reported and a further fishing vessel the `Celeste Jesus' is standing by her whilst
the rescue aircraft are making their way to the scene."