VOLUNTEERS from Sunderland RNLI Station scrambled into action to help four fishermen.
Their boat had suffered gearbox failure on the River Wear at South Hylton.
The rescue mission was launched shortly after 2pm on Sunday.
Officers based at Humber Coastguard Marine Rescue Coordination Centre received an emergency call from the crew, stating that their vessel was drifting after losing power close to Clexheugh Rock.
Officers immediately contacted James Jamieson, operations manager at Sunderland RNLI, to request the launch of their D Class inshore lifeboat MyJo.
The stricken vessel and its Sunderland crew were quickly located and taken in tow back to their own moorings at Deptford.