Baltimore RNLI provides assistance to a motor boat in difficulty

Just after a scheduled training exercise with Waterford based Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 117, the Baltimore all-weather lifeboat was requested to go to the assistance of a 33ft motor boat with one person on board that had become propped on pot buoys within Baltimore harbour. The skipper of the motor boat knew that the lifeboat was just returning to base so he called them for assistance on his VHF at 18.47.

The lifeboat with eight volunteer crew onboard, coxswain Kieran Cotter, mechanic Cathal Cottrell and crew members Emma Lupton, Ronnie Carthy, David Ryan, Jim Griffiths, Ryan O’Mahony and Eoin Ryan reached the casualty vessel at 18.50pm. Another motor boat skippered by former lifeboat crewman Torsten Marten was nearby at the time. Rather than deploying the y-boat from the all-weather lifeboat, the mechanic Cathal Cottrell asked him to assist in transferring two of the lifeboat crew members to the casualty vessel. Once the crew had assessed the situation they secured the vessel alongside the all-weather lifeboat and brought her to the north pier in Baltimore. Once the casualty vessel was secured to the pier and the skipper was happy, the lifeboat then returned to Baltimore lifeboat station, arriving at 19.18pm.

Conditions at the time were calm with a northerly force 2-3 wind and no sea swell within the harbour.

Speaking following the call out, Kate Callanan, Baltimore RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer said: ‘The skipper of the motor boat realised immediately that he needed assistance and as he had been watching the lifeboat and helicopter demonstration minutes before he knew that the quickest way to alert the lifeboat was to call them directly on channel 16 on his VHF. It is vital for anyone going to sea to always carry a means of communication such as a mobile phone or VHF in order to raise the alarm should they require help. This call out comes on the eve of Baltimore lifeboat’s centenary celebration. The first Baltimore lifeboat, the Shamrock, arrived 100 years ago on 8 September 1919. In addition to centenary celebration tomorrow (Sunday), Baltimore lifeboat are also holding the naming ceremony and dedication of its Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat the Rita Daphne Smyth which arrived on station last year.’

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RNLI media contacts

For more information please telephone Kate Callanan, Baltimore RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 087 2906607 or [email protected] or Nuala McAloon, Regional Media Officer on 0876483547 or [email protected] or Niamh Stephenson, Regional Media Manager on 0871254124 or [email protected]

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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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