Propellor damage on a craft: Beaumaris lifeboat volunteers tasked to assist.
On Tuesday at 7.40 pm (12 May 2026), the volunteer crew members of Beaumaris RNLI received a request from HM Coastguard relating to a small 16-foot pleasure boat that had no propulsion due to damage to the propellor and was anchored in the navigable channel in the Menai Strait.
The Beaumaris Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Annette Mary Liddington with her volunteer crew, launched and proceeded towards the given location this being close to the Britannia bridge.
Once at the scene and having ensured that all was well with the three male adults on the vessel and provided temporary lifejackets to those not wearing any. An assessment was made by the lifeboat helm in consultation with the Coastguard, as to the best course of action to be taken.
It was decided that due to the location of the craft in the narrow navigable access channel on the approach to the Britannia bridge that the vessel was creating a navigation hazard. Therefore, for safety reasons, the boat was towed to the nearest safe haven for the boat to be recovered this being the Plas Menai dock.
The Bangor Mobile Coastguard team had been requested to assist with the recovery once the vessel arrived at the dock.
Once this task had been completed the lifeboat was released by the Coastguard to return to her station, arriving at 8.35 pm to be refuelled and cleaned. Once this had been completed the crew left the station at 9.05 pm
A RNLI spokesperson said: ‘The boat crew did the correct thing in alerting the Coastguard to their predicament. This meant our volunteer lifeboat crew were able to reach the casualty quickly, assess the situation and take the best course of action to prevent the situation worsening. We would recommend that lifejackets be worn by everyone aboard whilst on a boat at sea.’
RNLI Media Contacts
For further information, please contact:
John Pulford, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI Wales & West, [email protected]
Claire Fitzpatrick-Smith, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Wales, West of England and Isle of Man, 07977 728 315, [email protected]
Danielle Rush, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Wales, West of England and Isle of Man, 07786 668829, [email protected]
RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]
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The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,700 lives.
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