Sheerness RNLI lifeboat aids wind farm transfer craft
The Sheerness all weather lifeboat responded after a wind farm support vessel was reportedly taking on water.
The volunteer crew of the Sheerness RNLI all weather lifeboat ‘George and Ivy Swanson’ were called by the UK Coastguard at 9.51am on Thursday 30 March to reports that the 21mtr. Wind farm Transfer Craft ‘Tempest’ with two crew members and four turbine technicians on board had struck an underwater object and was taking on water close to the wind farm complex off Whitstable.
The all weather lifeboat launched at 10.05am and proceeded at best speed to the location, arriving on the scene at 10.40am where they met the Whitstable RNLI lifeboat and another wind farm vessel who were already there.
Two crew members from the Sheerness lifeboat were put on board the casualty with a salvage pump and along with another pump from the Whitstable lifeboat began to pump water from the ‘Tempest’.
The craft was stuck fast on the unknown underwater object and with both lifeboats standing by the crews waited to see if it would come free once water had been pumped out, which it eventually did.
Once free it did not appear that the water ingress was getting any worse and so with the damaged compartment sealed the skipper got the craft underway, albeit listing quite badly, and at slow speed made for Whitstable with both lifeboats escorting it.
Steady progress was made and Tempest was secured alongside the quay in Whitstable Harbour at 1.10pm
The Sheerness lifeboat was released and was back on station and ready for service again at 2.30pm.
Ends
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