Barrow RNLI Lifeboat called to assist vessel in Walney Channel

The call for assistance came from HM Coastguard at Holyhead at 3-16pm. The information received was that a RIB, with four people on board, had broken down in Walney Channel close to the Ramsden Dock Entrance at the port of Barrow. The crew was paged and the inshore lifeboat, ‘Vision of Tamworth’, was launched at 3-21pm with Dave Kell at the helm assisted by two crew, Adam Cleasby and Richard Rawlinson. A further 7 crew members responded to the call-out. The lifeboat proceeded along Walney Channel and was on the scene at 3-47pm where the RIB was found to be secure at one of the offshore windfarm pontoons. However, with other vessel traffic due at the port, the RIB was required to leave the pontoon. The lifeboat took the stricken vessel under tow and it was returned safely to the Ferry Pitching at 4-07pm.

With the casualty vessel and crew safe, the ‘Vision of Tamworth’ returned to the lifeboat station at 4-30pm where it was made ready for the next launch.

The wind at the time of the incident was south-westerly, Force 3-4, and the high tide had passed at 2-11pm with a height of 9.6 metres.

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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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