RNLI lifeboat stations join forces in two separate incidents

The volunteer crew of the Sheerness all weather lifeboat ‘The George and Ivy Swanson’ were tasked by the UK Coastguard at 9.06pm on Saturday 13 July to a report of a 30ft trimaran sinking off the Isle of Sheppey with two adult and one juvenile male onboard one of whom, the skipper, was unwell.

The ALB launched at 9.28pm and was on scene at 9.42pm. The casualty was located in the vicinity of the Mid Cant Beacon in the Thames Estuary.

The Whitstable Atlantic 85 Lifeboat ‘Lewisco’ was also in attendance and had initially taken the casualty vessel in tow and put a crew member on board to assess the skipper.

At 9.48pm the ALB took over the tow and placed a crew member on board to continue casualty care. The ALB towed the vessel to Queenborough All Tide Landing where it was made secure at 11.08pm.The Sheppey Coastguard Rescue team and the Ambulance service were also on scene and with the casualty handed over into their care the Lifeboat was released at 11.15pm and returned to mooring at 11.25pm. Wind E, F2/3. Visibility good. Sea state slight.

The all-weather lifeboat was tasked again by the UK Coastguard at 9:38am on 14 July,again to assist the Whitstable Lifeboat who were with a craft reported to be taking on water in the vicinity of Leysdown Beach.

Once communications were established with the Whitstable crew the plan was to transfer two Sheerness crew members and a Salvage Pump onto the casualty craft and then to establish a towline. Having arrived on the scene at 10:20am this was done and the tow connected at 10:25am.The Whitstable lifeboat was released.

The tow back to Queenborough was completed at an average speed of 7 knots and with no water ingress to the craft the salvage pump was not used. The casualty was secured on a mooring near Washer Wharf, Queenborough, at 11. 55am.The Lifeboat was released at 12:00 and returned to its moorings at 12:10pm where it was refueled and made ready for service.

The two male occupants onboard the casualty had been on route from London to Portsmouth and had previously been removed from the craft by the Whitstable lifeboat and handed into the care of the Sheppey Coastguard Rescue Team at Leysdown.

Wind Easterly F2/3 throughout, sea smooth to slight on scene

Ends

Media contacts:

• Vic Booth RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer (Sheerness) 07926904453 / 01795 880544 [email protected] / [email protected]

Paul Dunt RNLI Press Officer S.E. [email protected] 07785296252

• For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 33678

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