Sheerness RNLI launch on consecutive days at the start of the New Year
Both Sheerness RNLI lifeboats were called out to separate incidents in the first two days of 2021.
The volunteer crew of the Sheerness RNLI inshore lifeboat ‘Buster’ launched at 10.03am on Friday 1 January after being called by the UK Coastguard to assist in a multi-agency incident on the River Medway at Rochester. With the incident resolved the lifeboat returned to station at 11.04am and after cleaning and re-fuelling was ready for service again at 11.25am.
Wind WSW force 1-2 with smooth seas and moderate visibility.
The all weather lifeboat ‘The George and Ivy Swanson’ launched at 11.02am on the 2 January after a call from the UK Coastguard reported that a 27 foot yacht with three people onboard was drifting dangerously close to the Montgomery wreck at the mouth of the Medway Estuary.
The lifeboat was on the scene at 11.09am and after checking that the people onboard the casualty were ok a tow was established to move the yacht to safety.
With the yacht having come from a mooring in Southend a call was made to the Southend RNLI lifeboat to respond and take over the tow from the Sheerness crew.
The casualty was passed into the care of the Southend lifeboat at 12.15pm.
Having arrived back on station at 12.30 pm the ALB was ready for further service at 1.00pm
Wind NNW force 1-2 with calm seas and fair visibility.
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
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.