Arbroath lifeboat launches into Storm Arwen
Arbroath's all-weather lifeboat, RNLB Inchcape, was requested to launch last night (26 November) alongside colleagues from RNLI Montrose, into storm Arwen to assist a ship in danger of running aground.
The RNLI volunteers pagers sounded at 23:37 to assist an 82 metre coaster motor vessel. The casualty vessel was dragging its anchor and in danger of going aground at the south end of Lunan Bay.
The lifeboat launched and made best speed to the area but was hampered by extremely challenging weather conditions. With 6 metre seas and winds gusting force 10/11, conditions were very difficult for crews to work in.
Montrose lifeboat arrived on scene first and the crew carried out a visual check of the port side of the vessel to assess for damage. Shortly after arriving on scene the Arbroath lifeboat arrived and carried out the same checks on the starboard side. Thankfully, no damage was found.
The vessel was able to make 2 knots of speed at best and it was decided the most suitable course of action was to escort her to safer waters approximately 4 miles from land. Once there both lifeboats were stood down.
Montrose lifeboat returned to Montrose harbour, with Arbroath lifeboat opting to follow them and allow the weather to break before making a safer recovery into Arbroath at a later time.
Following a challenging entry into Montrose harbour, both lifeboats were back at Montrose lifeboat station at approximately 03:30.
At 06:45 the Arbroath volunteers made the journey back to Arbroath harbour in more favourable conditions, before being refuelled and made ready for service.
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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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