Troon RNLI lifeboats launch after red flare sighting off Stevenston
At 6.45pm on Wednesday 30 January 2019, Troon RNLI all-weather and inshore lifeboats were requested to launch by Belfast Coastguard after reports of a distress flare off Stevenston Point.
Belfast Coastguard were notified by Police Scotland after a member of the public contacted them after they observed what they believed to be a red flare indicating a vessel may be in difficulty.
The Trent class all-weather lifeboat ‘RNLB Jim Moffat’ and D class inshore lifeboat ‘Sheena’ were soon underway in freezing conditions to assist the Ardrossan Coastguard Team with a search of the area.
With the Coastguard team searching the shore, the volunteer lifeboat crew carried out a search offshore from Irvine to Ardrossan.
After carrying out a search of the area, with no further reports and nothing found, the lifeboats were stood down by Belfast Coastguard.
Both lifeboats returned to Troon where they were made ‘Ready for Service’ with the assistances of the shore crew.
In a coastal emergency, dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.
RNLI Media Contacts:
Andrew Limond, volunteer lifeboat press officer at Troon, 01292 314414 [email protected]
Gemma McDonald, Regional Media Manager (Scotland), 07826 900639 or
[email protected]
Martin Macnamara, Regional Media Officer (Scotland), 07920 365929 or [email protected]
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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