A Dutch yacht in trouble in the Thames estuary is towed to safety
The Sheerness RNLI all weather lifeboat was called out to the aid of a drifting yacht in the Thames shipping lanes
The volunteer crew of the Sheerness all weather lifeboat ‘The George and Ivy Swanson’ launched at 1.35pm on Wednesday 23 August after a call from the UK Coastguard reported that a 44foot Dutch yacht with three people on board was in trouble in the area of No5 buoy in the busy Princes Channel.
The yacht which had no VHF communications on board was drifting after fouling a rope around its propeller.
The ALB located the craft at 2.25pm close to the Princes No.7 buoy with another yacht holding the casualty off and keeping it from danger in the busy shipping lane.
A crew member from the ALB was put onboard the yacht, a line was attached and the casualty was towed to Queenborough Harbour where it was safely moored at 5.47pm on the all tide landing.
The weather in the estuary at the time was good with a fresh westerly wind blowing four to five knots, slight seas and moderate visibility.
The ALB was back on station at 5.55pm.
Ends
RNLI media contacts
Vic Booth RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer (Sheerness) 07926904453 / 01795 880544 [email protected]
Paul Dunt RNLI Press Officer S.E. [email protected] 07786668825
• Tim Ash, RNLI Public Relations Manager (London/East/South East) on 0207 6207426, 07785 296252 [email protected]
For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789
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.