Tobermory Lifeboat and HM Coastguard team up to assist fishing boat adrift
Team work by Tobermory RNLI lifeboat and HM Coastguard came to the aid of the two man crew of a small fishing boat with power failure and drifting towards the treacherous Ardnamurchan coastline.
At 0929 on Saturday morning (15th July), Stornoway Coastguard requested Tobermory RNLI lifeboat to go to the aid of a small fishing boat with two persons on board which had lost power just south of Ardnamurchan Point, the most westerly point of the British mainland. HM Coastguard’s patrol vessel, MCA Hunter, was in the area and its crew managed to pass a line to the stricken fishing boat to prevent it drifting towards the shore in the Force 6 wind and moderate to rough sea conditions. On arrival on the scene, Tobermory’s volunteer crew passed a tow rope to the fishing boat and towed her to Tobermory harbour where she was met by members of the local Coastguard Rescue Team. The lifeboat then returned to her berth where she was refueled and made ready for service shortly after noon.
Tobermory RNLI’s Second Coxswain James Fairbairns said: ‘This was a classic example of seamless team work with our colleagues from HM Coastguard from start to finish: from the original tasking from our colleagues at the Coastguard Operations Centre in Stornoway through to the support from MCA Hunter in preventing the fishing boat from drifting onto the rocks and finally assistance from our local Coastguards in Tobermory helping us to get the casualty alongside at the pontoons.’
The lifeboat volunteers' weekend was rounded off with a visit to the Morvern Sailing Club Regatta at Lochaline where locals and visitors were able to explore the lifeboat and meet the crew.
Notes to Editors
Video of this service will be available shortly. For further information, please contact Dr Sam Jones, Tobermory RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager on 07747601900 or email [email protected].
Tobermory RNLI's Lifeboat Day will take place on Sunday 13th August at Tobermory harbour.
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.