RNLI lifeboat volunteers work together to secure 80m coaster off Cornish coast

The vessel, with 7 crew on board, had suffered engine failure three miles south of Gwennap Head at 3.00am, and with a strong south westerly force 6 wind, had started to drift towards the shore.

Falmouth Coastguard requested the launch of both lifeboats in the hope that they could attach tow lines to stop the vessel drifting ashore, or evacuate the crew if that failed. Thankfully, in very difficult conditions, the Ivan Ellen and City of London III lifeboats were able to tow the vessel two miles into deeper safer water. The Lady Alida then dropped anchor and both lifeboats headed to Newlyn at 6:20am

At 6:25am, while the volunteer crew were having a cup of tea in the Penlee boathouse, Falmouth Coastguard requested the relaunch of both lifeboats - the Lady Alida was dragging its anchor and drifting towards the shore at the speed of 1 knot.

Just after 7.00am, after an uncomfortable steam, both lifeboats arrived on scene - the initial plan was to stand by the vessel until a tug arrived from Brixham but at 8:30am, with the vessel only 2.5 miles from shore and still drifting north easterly at 1 knot, Sennen Cove and Penlee lifeboats once again attached tow ropes and slowly headed seaward to safer waters.

The salvage tug on route from Brixham was struggling with the poor weather conditions and making slow progress. A larger tug anchored in Mount's Bay, was then tasked to assist the Lady Alida.

By the time the tug arrived on scene both lifeboats had towed the Lady Alida over 4 miles to safer waters in fairly poor weather conditions. With their job complete the two lifeboats were stood down after nearly 11 hours at sea, and the volunteers were able to return to their respective stations.

Patrick Harvey, Coxswain of Penlee RNLI all-weather lifeboat said:

‘It was an extremely long job, not made easy by the conditions. A fantastic team effort from both of the volunteer lifeboat crews from Penlee and Sennen Cove.’

• Footage of the shout is available to download from the RNLI website

For more information please contact Amy Caldwell, RNLI Public Relations Manager at [email protected] or 07920 818 807 or Elaine Trethowan, volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer at Penlee lifeboat station on 07704669406 Or Brian Simpson, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer at Sennen Cove on 07762057127

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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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