Hoylake RNLI Lifeboat assists crew transfer vessel with engine problems.

The Hoylake volunteer crew were paged at 7.16 pm and the lifeboat was able to launch on service within twenty minutes. The casualty was the Dalby Humber, a 46 tonnes, 21 metre high speed catamaran which suffered loss of propulsion in one of its twin engines and was having difficulty manoeuvring. The vessel had six persons on board who had been working on the Burbo windfarm extension.

The lifeboat, Edmund Hawthorn Micklewood, made good speed and reached the casualty, near the entrance to the buoyed channel of the River Mersey, in less than half an hour. The Dalby Humber was then taken under tow to Langton Lock where it entered the dock system for repairs. The lifeboat was secured alongside the windfarm vessel and was able to manoeuvre the much larger craft on to a berth in the dock. Members of the local Coastguard Rescue Team were present to assist on the dockside.

Lifeboat crewman Dave Crozier said; “This is just one of the situations which we train so hard for week in and week out all year in all weather. Jobs like this make all that time and effort worthwhile. It has been a long night but as RNLI volunteer crew we all feel privileged to be able to serve the community at times like this.”

Hoylake lifeboat recovered on the beach at 01.45 am. and was pulled across the sand bank to the station. The crew and shore crew then washed her down and refuelled her. The lifeboat was ready for the next service at 03.30 am.

Notes to editors.

• Hoylake Lifeboat Station has been operating since 1803 and is one of the oldest in the country. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to www.rnli.org.uk/hoylake or www.hoylakelifeboat.org.uk/
• Lifeboat Operations Manager Dave Whiteley and Coxswain/Mechanic Andy Dodd are available for interview by arrangement.

RNLI media contacts

For more information please telephone or email:

• Hoylake RNLI Volunteer Press Officers, Peter Ruddell, on 07974 800 106 peter_ruddell@rnli.org.uk or Louise Dodd on 07833 734 964 [email protected]
• Public Relations Manager North, Alison Levett, on 07786668912 [email protected]
• RNLI Central Press Office on 01202 336 789 (24 Hours).

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For more information on the RNLI please visit www.rnli.org.uk. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI Press Centre www.rnli.org.uk/press

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 Republic of Ireland from 236 lifeboat stations, including four along the River Thames and inland lifeboat stations at Loch Ness, Lough Derg, Enniskillen and Lough Ree. Additionally the RNLI has more than 1,000 lifeguards on over 180 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 139,000 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.

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity 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 146,000 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.