Dart and Torbay RNLI lifeboats respond to call from trawler taking on water

The boat was on passage from Plymouth to Swanage when the RNLI was asked to launch by the UK Coastguard after the Harbour Authority was alerted by National Coastwatch Institution volunteers at Froward Point.

The volunteer crew of the Dart RNLI lifeboat, which launched at 3pm, took out a salvage pump and was able to suck the engine room dry and prevent the ship's engine failing. It was discovered that the water was coming from a leaking stern gland and none of the boats pumps had worked.

The Endrick 2 was making her own way slowly into Dartmouth Harbour when the Torbay RNLI all-weather lifeboat arrived and took her in an alongside tow to the Commercial pontoon.

At the time of the incident the wind was North West 11-16 kinots and the sea state was a 0.5metre swell

Dart lifeboat crew. Kevin Murphy, helm, Haydn Glanvill, Kevin John and Will Davies crew.
Launch crew. Jerry Gilby, tractor driver. Bob Thomas, Mark Strudwick and Crispin Brabner crew.

RNLI media contacts

John Fenton, RNLI Dart Lifeboat Press Officer, Mobile 07970 921504 [email protected]

Paul Dunt, RNLI Press Officer (London/East/South East) on 0207 620 7416 07786 668825

• Tim Ash, RNLI Public Relations Manager (London/East/South East) on 0207 6207426, 07785 296252 [email protected]
• RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789. For enquiries outside normal business hours, this number diverts to the duty press officer.

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 Ireland from 238 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 240 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 140,000 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.