Tow and Mussels Kick Off 2020 for Newhaven RNLI
Newhaven’s Severn Class lifeboat ‘David and Elizabeth Acland’ and her volunteer crew were called to assist a 30ft motor boat at anchor 1NM south of Seaford Head that had suffered complete engine failure on Wednesday 1 January 2020.
The launch anticipated some boat-muscle for a potential tow, but no mussels were foreseen in the initial briefing.
The lone sailor was left with no VHF or navigation equipment due to the nature of the motor boat’s mechanical failure. The volunteer lifeboat crew were tasked at 2.45pm and launched into smooth sea state with force 2 northerly wind, but poor visibility due to fog.
When the casualty vessel was located one of the RNLI crew members was transferred onboard to assist with communications during the passage back to Newhaven Harbour.
Shortly after setting the towline, the lifeboat received a request from HM Coastguard to investigate sightings of a floating life-ring 3NM south east of the lifeboat's position. The sighting had been reported by a fishing vessel.
The lifeboat and her crew made their way to successfully locate the life-ring. They recovered it from the water and discovered it had been floating for some time. It was well decorated in mussels and barnacles.
The crew proceeded with the tow and returned the casualty vessel to its own berth and was released with thanks from the coastguard at 5.15pm, at which time the lifeboat and her volunteer crew were available again for service.
Media Contacts:
Rosalind Ashton, volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, Newhaven Lifeboat Station (07900) 887423 [email protected] Paul Dunt, Regional Media Officer, London and South East (07785) 296252 [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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