Humber RNLI launched to assist a 28ft yacht in the mouth of the River Humber
The Humber RNLI lifeboat crew launched from Spurn Point at 12.50pm on Sunday 28 May 2017 to the assistance of a 28ft sailing yacht suffering a fouled propeller.
The Lifeboat launched and quickly located the vessel one and a half mile south of their moorings at Spurn Point. The vessel had caught a rope around her propeller causing the yachts engine to stop. The three crew aboard were making way under sail, but called for assistance when entering the busy shipping channels of the River Humber. The coxswain of the Humber lifeboat decided to take the vessel under tow and take her to the safe haven of Grimsby Royal Dock.
Joe Pieniak, 2nd Coxswain for Humber RNLI Lifeboat, says: ‘The river can be very busy with large ships using the shipping lanes, wind farm vessels and pleasure craft; particularly in nice weather like this weekend. The crew of the yacht did the right thing in calling for assistance early, allowing my crew and myself to tow the vessel safely away from any major shipping.’
Once the lifeboat had assisted the yacht safely into Grimsby the lifeboat was fuelled and made ready for its next service call before returning to station at Spurn point, The RNLI crew were back on station at 4.30pm.
Notes to editors
Humber Lifeboat Station is the only full time all-weather lifeboat crew in the RNLI and has been saving lives at sea since 1810.
The station is manned by full time staff and volunteers providing lifesaving cover from the Humber estuary 365 days a year 24/7.
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For more information please contact Lifeboat Press Officers Liam Dunnett or Mark Stanbra on 01964 650228 or Alison Levett, RNLI Public Relations Manager, North, on 07786 668912 or at [email protected]
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.
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