Douglas RNLI called out to fishing boat with a failed engine

The 9m vessel with one person on board had left Douglas about an hour earlier on a fishing trip when arriving off Onchan Head at the north end of Douglas Bay the engine overheated and failed necessitating an immediate call to the Coastguard by VHF radio for assistance.

With the wind gusting from force 5 to 7 and a heavy swell crossing Douglas Bay Coxswain Neal Corran took the all-weather lifeboat, Marine Engineer, out of Douglas harbour heading for the last reported position of the casualty vessel.

Visibility was good and the fishing boat was quickly located and having first ensured that the sole crewman was well and required no immediate attention the lifeboat took the fishing boat under tow back to a berth in Douglas Marina where the Douglas Coastguard were waiting to assist.

Leaving the fisherman and his boat in the care of the Coastguard the lifeboat returned to station to be re-housed and made ready again for service.

Notes to editors
Caption for attached photo: Douglas all-weather lifeboat Marine Engineer with casualty vessel under tow in the heavy swell. Credit: RNLI/Michael Howland

RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact Mike Howland, Douglas RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07624496029, email [email protected] or contact Nuala McAloon RNLI Regional Media Officer Ireland on 00353876483547 or email [email protected] or Niamh Stephenson RNLI Regional Media Manager Ireland on 00353871254124 or [email protected]

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The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.

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