Helensburgh - Report of drifting boat
Helensburgh RNLI lifeboat station was contacted by the UK Coastguard at 1822 hours on Sunday 13th August 2017 after a report was received that a vessel with tender attached appeared to be either adrift or dragging its anchor in the vicinity of Blairmore, near Holy Loch.
The Coastguard wanted to confirm that there was no-one on board the vessel. After launching at 1831 hours the lifeboat crew proceeded to the Blairmore area where they located the vessel, a 24' fishing boat. Although the vessel had an anchor deployed it had been insufficient to hold the vessel which was slowly drifting. The cabin was locked and there were no persons on board.
A search for the person or persons who had been on board the vessel was then initiated. In addition to the lifeboat, Coastguard Rescue Teams from Dunoon and Greenock, Police Scotland and a CMU Police Boat were all involved. After an extensive investigation and search of the area, it transpired that the vessel had developed engine problems and the two persons on board had been conveyed to Cardwell Bay by a passing good Samaritan in an orange RIB.
The vessel was secured to Blairmore pier. As they were found to be safe and well ashore all resources involved in the search were asked to stand down. The lifeboat returned to base and reported ready for service again at 2035 hours.
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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.
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