Dungeness lifeboat assists yacht in the shipping lane of the English Channel
On Monday 10 June at 5.50 pm, the UK Coastguard tasked the lifeboat to assist a 28’ yacht, sailing from Eastbourne to Boulogne with 4 persons on board, 9 miles south southeast of Dungeness point, becalmed and experiencing engine failure in the south west lane of the English Channel.
Once on scene, Coxswain Stuart Adams, in command of the RNLI Shannon class AWL (all weather lifeboat) 13-02 ‘The Morrell’ transferred one volunteer crewmember aboard the casualty to assess the situation and attempt to re-start the engine. Unfortunately this was not possible so a towline was established and the casualty was safely towed to Dover Harbour, being the nearest safe haven.
The RNLI lifeboat returned to Dungeness, was refuelled and made ready for service by 11.30 pm.
Coxswain Adams said ‘the casualty did everything possible but due to the fact he was in a busy shipping lane, we needed to tow him swiftly out of danger. Our volunteers did a tremendous job once again and the persons on board the casualty were very grateful for our assistance’
RNLI media contacts
- Judith Richardson – Dungeness RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer
Tel: 01797 320062/Mob: 07859264226 - Email: pressofficer@dungenesslifeboat.org.uk
- Paul Dunt, RNLI Regional Media Officer (South East) 0207 6207416/07786 66882 paul_dunt@rnli.org.uk
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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 over 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and, in a normal year, 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 142,700 lives.
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