Islay RNLI lifeboat tows a fishing boat to safety
Islay RNLI volunteer lifeboat went to the aid of a fishing vessel with her crew of three after she had fouled her anchor and was being blown towards the shore of Kildalton on the south east side of Islay.
At 11.25pm on Saturday 9th March the Coastguard paged a launch request for the Islay lifeboat to go to the aid of a fishing boat that was drifting towards the rocky coast. By half past midnight the lifeboat had arrived at the scene to find the vessel being held by her trawl gear only yards from a reef with an onshore breeze blowing.
A tow was quickly passed and secured after an assessment of the situation and the boat was towed to the nearest safe harbour of Port Ellen.
As conditions were fair this proved to be a simple rescue for the volunteer crew of the Severn class Helmut Schroder of Dunlossit II.
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
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