Wicklow lifeboat assist motor cruiser with rope fouled prop
Wicklow RNLI brought two people and three dogs to safety this afternoon (Saturday 24 August), after their 33-foot motor cruiser got fouled in ropes off the Wicklow coast.
The all-weather lifeboat Jock & Annie Slater put to sea shortly at 11am under the command of Deputy Coxswain David O’ Leary and a volunteer crew, following a launch request from the Coast Guard.
The lifeboat located the stricken Welsh motor cruiser eleven miles north east of Wicklow harbour thirty-five minutes later. Conditions on scene were sea state slight and good visibility. A towline was established, and the cruiser was taken in tow back to Wicklow harbour.
As the all-weather lifeboat was approaching Wicklow harbour, the skipper of the motor cruiser said his vessel was taking on water. As a precaution the crew prepared a pump and the Inshore lifeboat was launched to assist.
Lisa O’ Leary was transferred from the Inshore lifeboat onto the cruiser to assess the situation. A bilge pump was used to clear the water and the lifeboat pump was not required. Lisa stayed on the cruiser to check that no more water was entering the vessel as it was towed into the harbour.
The motor cruiser was brought alongside the East pier shortly before 2pm and the two people and three dogs were landed safely ashore.
All-weather lifeboat crew (Deputy) Coxswain David O’ Leary, Mechanic Brendan Copeland, Brendan Kavanagh, Carol Flahive, Paul Sillery and Matt Doyle.
Inshore lifeboat crew (Helm) Dean Mulvihill, Lisa O’ Leary and Brid Seoighe.
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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