RNLI Kessock rescue 8 people and launch on their 700th shout
The volunteer crew of RNLI Kessock have today (Sunday 3 June) rescued 8 people in 2 different shouts. Coming just days before the crew mark the 25th Anniversary of the station being formed, the second shout was the 700th time that RNLI volunteers have launched on service from North Kessock.
The first shout of the day came when the UK Coastguard requested the lifeboat was launched at 3.40pm this afternoon after a 4m RIB (Rigid-hulled Inflatable Boat) suffered engine failure just to the east of the South Kessock slipway.
Quickly launching the volunteer crew were on scene in a matter of minutes as the casualty vessel was less then half a mile from the lifeboat station.
There were 4 people on board the RIB, all of whom were wearing lifejackets or buoyancy aids. They were taken under tow by the lifeboat crew and taken the very short distance across the Kessock Channel to the slipway at North Kessock where they originally launched from earlier in the day.
The wind was coming from the north east and was force 3, a gentle 8 -12 mph breeze. It was high tide.
Safely in North Kessock, the RNLI volunteers along with Inverness Coastguard team helped recover the RIB onto the trailer.
The crew were then stood down from the shout and returned to the lifeboat station to recover the lifeboat and make it ready for the next service call, whenever that might be.
That call came less than 2 hours after the volunteers headed home when their pagers were sounded again at 6.50pm.
This was to be the 700th shout for RNLI volunteers based in North Kessock over the past 25 years.
A small 4.5m cruiser had set off for a day’s fishing again with 4 people on board, all of whom were wearing buoyancy aids, it also suffered engine failure. This time caused by suspected fuel contamination.
By now the wind had increased to a force 4 gusting 5, 19-24 mph and the tide was ebbing, leading to choppy sea conditions caused by wind over tide. Visibility was about 3 miles.
The cruiser was located near Chanonry Point and taken under tow by the lifeboat who then turned into the worsening conditions to head back to Inverness Marina.
The tow took approximately 90 minutes and at times near the Meikle Mee buoy encountered 2.5m swells due to the wind over tide conditions.
The cruiser was safely secured in Inverness Marina around 9.30pm, again with the assistance of Inverness Coastguard team. The lifeboat crew returned to the station again to wash the lifeboat down, refuel it and make it ready for service.
Dan Holland, volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI Kessock said: ‘Despite this being a busy afternoon for us, we were pleased to see that all 8 people we rescued today were wearing lifejackets or buoyancy aids and had good means of calling for help with them. Coming just days before the 25th anniversary of a RNLI lifeboat being based in North Kessock hopefully this successful outcome for all involved can be used to show the importance of being correctly prepared when you go to sea’
ENDS
Attached pictures:
RNLI Kessock RIB at North Kessock Slipway – the RIB involved in the first shout of the afternoon. Credit: RNLI Kessock
The empty carriage – Credit: Jack Lowe
2nd Shout cruiser under tow. Credit: RNLI Kessock
Media Contacts:
Dan Holland, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, RNLI Kessock, 07900 567 496 [email protected]
Henry Weaver, RNLI Regional Media Manager for Scotland, 01738 642946, 07771 943026, [email protected]
Gemma Mcdonald, RNLI Regional Media Officer for Scotland. 01738 642956, 07826 900639 [email protected]
RNLI 24 hour Press Office, 01202 336789
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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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