GIRVAN LIFEBOAT LAUNCHED TO MAYDAY CALL

Saturday 22 June 2019 at 12:26 Girvan lifeboat was requested to launch in response to a Mayday call to the Coastguard from a 52ft converted trawler a couple of miles North East of Ailsa Craig.

Girvan volunteer crew were quickly assembled and launched our Shannon Class All-weather lifeboat 13-23 RNLB Elizabeth and Gertrude Allan, and with a speed of 25knots were soon on scene approx 9.5 Miles from Girvan.

With the casualty vessel assessed, it was ascertained the vessel had broken down and could not make progress and in discussions with the skipper and coastguard, the MAYDAY was downgraded to a PANPAN.

The radiotelephony message PAN-PAN is the international standard urgency signal that someone aboard a boat, ship, aircraft, or other vehicle uses to declare that they have a situation that is urgent, but for the time being, does not pose an immediate danger to anyone's life or to the vessel itself.

With this in mind the the lifeboat took the casualty vessel under tow and proceeded to return to Girvan.

At around 14.40 our Shannon class lifeboat returned to Girvan Harbour, where the volunteer crew safely berthed the casualty vessel and it was handed to Girvan Coastguard Rescue Team for follow up details.

This was also the 1st shout for crewmember Luciana McGarvie who joined us last year shortly after her 17th Birthday, Luciana went on to say "it was great to get that 1st shout, and to see that all the practice and training I have had here at Girvan and with the RNLI coming together when it matters most."

Girvan lifeboat was then washed, refuelled and made ready for service once again.

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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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.