Longhope Lifeboat launched to attend vessel in Scapa Flow.
Damaged vessel rapidly taking on water towed to safety.
Leaving the station at 8.55pm, 2 March 2019, RNLI Longhope lifeboat quickly responded to a request from UK Coastguards to search for and assist a vessel in trouble in Scapa Flow. The vessel, an 11 metre ex-fishing boat with one crew on board was located one nautical mile south-east of Houton. Having confirmed the vessel owner was unharmed, a tow was quickly established and underway by 9.35pm.
The damaged vessel, which was rapidly taking on water, was safely towed to Houton and made secure. Stromness Coastguards were also in attendance at Houton and ready to assist if necessary. The lifeboat returned to Longhope, refuelled and was made ready again for service. Sea and visibility conditions were good to fair.
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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 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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