
Sinking fishing boat sparks launch of Oban RNLI
Oban RNLI Lifeboat ‘Mora Edith MacDonald’ was requested to launch yesterday evening (Thursday 3 February) to assist a fishing vessel taking on water.
The UK Coastguard requested the launch of Oban lifeboat shortly before midnight last night. A 25 meter fishing boat with two persons on board was taking on water, just south of Lismore lighthouse.
The lifeboat departed Oban making best speed towards the vessel’s location, at the same time the crew prepared the lifeboat’s salvage pump for use on arrival. On route, it was established that the fishing vessel had managed to stop the water ingress, but its holds were already submerged and they were unable to activate their own pumps onboard to pump the water out.
The volunteer crew arrived on scene by 12.20am and two crew members were transferred onboard along with the lifeboat’s salvage pump. An hour after first stepping onboard, the salvage pump had managed to clear most of the water taken on by the vessel. Once it was established there was no further water ingress and that the vessel had not sustained any damage, the lifeboat crew and pump were transferred back onboard the lifeboat.
Oban lifeboat was stood down by 1.50am, returning to station where she was ready for service again by 2.15am.
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
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