More callouts for the Sheerness RNLI volunteers

The volunteer crew of the Sheerness all-weather lifeboat, ’The George and Ivy Swanson’, were tasked by the UK Coastguard at 5.58pm on Thursday 17 September to respond a 20foot cabin cruiser in difficulties approximately 2.5 nautical miles off Shellness in the Thames estuary.

The lifeboat launched at 6.15pm with a crew of seven and made best speed to the position given by the UK Coastguard. At 7.03pm the lifeboat had visual contact with the casualty craft which was positioned approximately 1.7 nm from their position. It was immediately apparent to the lifeboat Coxswain that with low water in less than an hour there would not be enough water for the ALB to approach the casualty until at least 10.30pm – 11.00pm on the flood tide.

Further communication from the UK Coastguard reported that they had been in contact by mobile phone (no VHF onboard the craft) with the crafts occupants who reported that they were anchored and had enough provisions to wait until the tide had flooded sufficiently to allow rescue. The Sheerness lifeboat was stood down at 7.49pm after the UK Coastguard reported that they had been in contact with Whitstable RNLI Lifeboat station who would launch once there was sufficient water to assist the casualty.

The ALB was back on station at 8.59pm and after washing down and re-fuelling was ready for service again at 9.30pm. Wind NE 25knots, slight seas with good visibility.

At 7.47 am the following morning the inshore lifeboat ‘Ole Schroder’ was tasked by the UK Coastguard to assist in the medical evacuation of a 70-year-old man with a suspected broken ankle, who was onboard a yacht at Queenborough all-tide landing.

Having launched at 8.05am with a crew of three the lifeboat was quickly at the scene where the Sheppey Coastguard Rescue Team and a Kent ambulance crew were waiting. After liaising with the other agencies, a plan was formulated to extract the casualty safely and as comfortably as possible. The lifeboat was stood down after the casualty was removed from the yacht and passed into the care of the other agencies on scene,arriving back on station at 8.40 am.

After washing down and re-fuelling the lifeboat was ready for service again at 9.04am.

Wind ENE 18-22 knots with calm seas.

The crew of the inshore lifeboat ,’Ole Schroder’ were tasked at 4:43pm on Saturday 19 September by the UK Coastguard to respond to reports of a 12’ vessel which had lost its rudder and was drifting in a position between the M2 & A2 bridges on the River Medway at Strood. Launching with a crew of 3 at 4:56pm the lifeboat made best speed and at 6:00pm confirmed that the vessel was now under tow and being taken to a mooring at Cuxton Marina.

At 6:30pm having secured the casualty at Cuxton Marina the lifeboat was released and the casualty left to receive advice from the Medway Coastguard Rescue Team.

Arriving back on station at 7:45pm the ILB was washed down, refuelled and made ready for service. Weather Part cloudy, Wind NNE 18-20 knots, sea state slight, visibility good.

The ‘Ole Schroder’ launched again at 1:10am on Monday 21 September in response to a pre-arranged tasking with the UK Coastguard the previous evening.

The pre-arranged launch was to allow sufficient tide to flood so that the lifeboat had safe access for recovery of a small fishing boat that had gone aground North of Hoo Island,River Medway.

The Lifeboat with a crew of 3 onboard was tasked to assist a 15’ fishing boat, with 4 people onboard, which had suffered water ingress and gone aground North of Hoo Island , River Medway earlier the previous afternoon whilst attempting to make way to the safety of Hoo Marina.

The lifeboat arrived on scene at 1:45am and after rigging a towline had the casualty vessel under tow at 1:55am.

The casualty vessel was safely secured on a finger mooring within Hoo Marina at 2.14am and the lifeboat was released, leaving the 4 persons in the care of Medway Coastguard Rescue Team who had also been tasked to assist.

The ILB returned to Station at 2:50am where it was refuelled and made ready for service. Weather part cloudy, Wind NNE 12 knots, sea state calm, visibility good.

The inshore lifeboat was tasked again at 10:27am on 22 September by the UK Coastguard after a report from Medway VTS of a yacht aground on Queenborough Spit.

Launching at 10:40 am with a crew of 3 the ILB was on scene 5 minutes later.

After confirming the skipper of the yacht was ok and happy to stay onboard his craft to await the next flood tide. As a safety measure the lifeboat crew deployed the yachts anchor. The Lifeboat was then stood down and was back on station at 10:53am

Weather fair, wind SW 3 knots, sea state calm, visibility good.

Ends

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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