A variety of calls keep the Sheerness RNLI Lifeboat volunteers busy.

The first call came on Monday 30 September when the Sheerness crews were paged with a ‘crew assemble’ alert at 10.20pm in response to a call from the UK Coastguard to reports that a 42-foot yacht was aground, after suffering machinery failure, NW of the Grain Fort.

The inshore lifeboat ‘Buster’ launched at 10.46pm to assess the situation and with the casualty quickly located the crew were able to secure a towline to the yacht and move it to deeper water. The all-weather lifeboat ‘The George and Ivy Swanson’ launched at 11.05pm and took over the tow from the inshore lifeboat at 11.25pm and arrived at the Queenborough all-tide landing at 11.48pm. The inshore lifeboat was back on station at 11.30pm followed by the ALB which moored at 11.59pm.

Winds southerly 25knots, sea slight, visibility moderate.

The ALB launched again at 10.55am on Wednesday 2 October after being tasked by the UK Coastguard to reports of an upturned white dinghy in the vicinity of the Zulu anchorages in the Thames estuary. Having arrived on the scene a search of the area began at 11.05am and located the dinghy at 11.45pm. With nothing untoward found and taking into account the condition of the craft the lifeboat was stood down by the UK coastguard and arrived back on station with the dinghy in tow at 12.20pm. Wind WSW F5, sea state slight with good visibility.

The inshore lifeboat launched again at 6.15pm on Wednesday 9 October after being tasked to a 20-foot cabin cruiser with three people onboard that had broken down and was at anchor in Wickham Reach, Rochester. The ILB crew located the casualty at 6.56pm, and having established that the occupants were safe and well, a tow line was attached and the craft was towed to a mooring at Medway Bridge Marina. Having been released at 7.38pm the ILB was back on station at 8.31pm and ready for service again at 8.55pm.

Ends

RNLI media contacts

Vic Booth RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer (Sheerness) 07926904453 / 01795 880544 [email protected] / [email protected]

Paul Dunt RNLI Press Officer S.E. [email protected] 07785296252

For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789

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.

Learn more about the RNLI

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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.