Early morning call for Selsey RNLI after fishing boat fouls its propeller
UK Coastguard requested the launch of the Shannon class all- weather lifeboat (ALB) on Wednesday 18 December. The 18 metre 70 ton vessel reported the propeller was fouled and their position was in the south west traffic lane 22 miles south east of Selsey bill.
The ALB launched at 1.56am and made best speed to the position arriving on scene at 3.05am. The weather on scene was wind southerly force 4, sea state slight in a clear sky. The fishing vessel reported all four crew on board were well and ready to accept the tow line. At 3.16am a tow was established between the lifeboat and the fishing vessel and a course was set towards Portsmouth Harbour.
Whilst the tow continued the skipper of the fishing boat arranged for another fishing boat to rendezvous with the lifeboat approximately one mile west of the Looe channel buoys to take over the tow from the lifeboat. At 8.30am the tow was released and at 8.40am the lifeboat departed the scene to return to Selsey.
The lifeboat returned to Selsey at 9.00am and was rehoused washed down and refuelled ready for the next call by 10.30am. The crew today were Coxswain Martin Rudwick, 2nd Cox Colin Pullenger, Mechanic Phil Pitham, Max Gilligan, Geoff Mellett and James Albrey.
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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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