Sheerness RNLI lifeboat called out twice to unmanned craft adrift in the Medway
The volunteer crew of the Sheerness RNLI lifeboat responded to two reports of unmanned craft adrift in the shipping channels.
The first call came at 1222pm on Sunday 15 January when the crew of the all weather lifeboat George and Ivy Swanson were called by the UK Coastguard to reports of a small yacht drifting in the main shipping channel at West Oaze.
The local Pilot cutter had managed to get a line on board the vessel but due to work commitments was unable to continue and so the Sheerness lifeboat was requested to take up the tow which it did.
The yacht,which was believed to have broken from a mooring, was towed to the Lower Camber Basin in Sheerness Docks
The lifeboat returned to station at 1.30pm
The second call was on Saturday 21 January at 3.46pm when a call from the UK Coastguard reported a small dinghy had been sighted drifting near to Black Deep number 11 buoy which is situated some 19 miles from the lifeboat station.
The all weather lifeboat responded and was in the reported area approximately one hour later where a thorough search was made but nothing was found.
After further communication with the UK Coastguard it was thought that the dinghy was a derelict that had gone adrift in the high tides and had probably sunk.
The lifeboat was stood down and returned to station at 7.05pm
Ends
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