Perfect timing by the Sheerness lifeboat crew
On passage back to station the Sheerness RNLI all weather lifeboat received a PanPan call from a vessel in trouble.
The volunteer crew of the Sheerness all weather lifeboat, The George and Ivy Swanson, were heading back to the lifeboat station from Gillingham Marina, where the lifeboat had been visiting for routine maintenance, when a PanPan call was received at 1.38pm from the motor cruiser Sukat reporting that the craft had run aground on Bishops Marsh and lost all propulsion.
The casualty with four people onboard was found within five minutes of the lifeboat receiving the call and with a tow line attached was then taken to Gillingham Marina where it was handed over to the marina workboat.
The lifeboat was back on station at 2.38pm. Wind Easterly force 4 to 5
Note ; A PanPan call is the international standard urgency signal used to declare an urgent situation that at the present time does not pose immediate danger to life or the vessel involved and is distinct from a Mayday call which means imminent danger to life or the vessel and calls upon all in the area to drop what they are doing and begin an immediate rescue.
Ends
Media Contacts
RNLI media contacts
Vic Booth RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer (Sheerness) 07926904453 / 01795 880544 .[email protected] / [email protected]
Paul Dunt RNLI Press Officer S.E. [email protected] 07785296252
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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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