Dungeness lifeboat tasked to yacht taking in water from broken porthole

​The yacht was taking in water from a broken porthole window, just above the waterline. Once on scene Coxswain Stuart Adams, in charge of the RNLI Shannon class lifeboat 13-02 'The Morrell' and her volunteer crew put one crew member on board the casualty to assess the situation and to make sure everyone was ok.  Once the damaged porthole was shored up using pillows and was not taking in any more water Coxswain Adams decided to escort the casualty on to Dover for repairs as there were children on board. Coxswain Adams said 'although the skipper was well equipped for the passage he did the right thing calling us out as his main concern was the safety of his children' 

Key facts about the RNLI

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is the charity that saves lives at sea. Our volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service in the United Kingdom and Ireland from 238 lifeboat stations, including four along the River Thames and inland lifeboat stations at Loch Ness, Lough Derg, Enniskillen, Carrybridge and Lough Ree. Additionally the RNLI has more than 1,000 lifeguards on over 240 beaches around the UK and operates a specialist flood rescue team, which can respond anywhere across the UK and Ireland when inland flooding puts lives at risk.

The RNLI relies on public donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. As a charity it is separate from, but works alongside, government-controlled and funded coastguard services. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824 our lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved at least 140,000 lives. Volunteers make up 95% of the charity, including 4,600 volunteer lifeboat crew members and 3,000 volunteer shore crew. Additionally, tens of thousands of other dedicated volunteers raise funds and awareness, give safety advice, and help in our museums, shops and offices.

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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

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The RNLI is a charity registered in England and Wales (209603) and Scotland (SC037736). Charity number 20003326 in the Republic of Ireland