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Sheerness all weather lifeboat launched on consecutive days

Lifeboats News Release

The Sheerness all weather lifeboat was launched to two seperate incidents involving small motor boats with machinery failure

The small craft involved in the second incident being towed to safety after drifting under a jetty

RNLI/Vic Booth

On tow

In the first incident the volunteer crew of the Sheerness RNLI all weather lifeboat 'The George and Ivy Swanson' were tasked on Saturday 27 April 2019 by the UK Coastguard to an 8meter pleasure craft suffering from machinery failure and at anchor approximately 2 nautical miles off Warden Point on the Isle of Sheppey. The ALB launched at 4.28pm and located the craft with two men on board at 4.52pm. Upon arrival of the lifeboat the men recovered their anchor and a tow line was passed and secured. Whilst heading back towards the River Medway lifeboat coxswain Robin Castle was informed that a relative of the men on board the casualty craft was out fishing in the Medway and would take up the tow. After the other craft was located and had attached a towline to the casualty both vessels headed up to moorings in Stoke Creek. The ALB was released and returned to station at 6.15pm. Wind SW force 5 to 6

In the second incident the following day the Sheerness RNLI all weather lifeboat launched at 9.20am after being tasked by the UK Coastguard who had received a Pan Pan call from a motorboat with three people on board that had broken down and drifted underneath the link span (the old Olau Ferry berth) at number 10 berth in Sheerness docks.

Having arrived on the scene within minutes the crew of the lifeboat managed to secure a line to the casualty craft and then tow it into clear water.

The small craft had sustained some minor damage but had maintained its watertight integrity. All three persons on board reported that they were ok and had not suffered any injuries.

The lifeboat towed the craft back to the all tide landing at Queenborough Harbour where it was secured and met by members of the Sheppey Coastguard Rescue team.

The ALB was back on station at 10.07am. Wind NW force 5


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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