50 mile call out for Oban RNLI Lifeboat

Oban lifeboat launched at 4.17pm on Sunday afternoon, making best speed towards the vessel’s position. Whilst on route, it was established that the boat had earlier put two groups of people ashore in separate locations and due to suffering mechanical failure, the vessel was now unable to collect them, leaving both parties stranded.

By 5.15pm the lifeboat had arrived on scene at a bay just north of the vessel itself, and at the entrance to the tidal waters of the Corryvreckan. This was the location of one of the groups ashore. The lifeboat’s daughter craft was inflated and used to safely evacuate and transfer two persons onboard the lifeboat.

The lifeboat then proceeded south to Glentrosdale bay at 5.45pm, where the vessel was at anchor and the remaining party ashore. The vessel had managed to briefly restart its engine long enough to retrieve the remaining two persons ashore, before re-anchoring. The two persons were then transferred onboard the lifeboat.

Once everyone had been accounted for, the lifeboat put one crew member on board the vessel. A tow line was established by 6.35pm and the lifeboat proceeded to tow the vessel towards Craobh Haven. The vessel was safely alongside at Craobh, with the assistance of Oban’s Coastguard Rescue Team, by 7.37pm. The lifeboat also berthed to transfer the 4 persons taken on board from the vessel.

Oban lifeboat then departed the scene, returning back to Oban where she was refuelled and ready for service again by 9pm. 4 and a half hours after the initial launch and 50 miles covered.