A long day for the crew of the Sheerness all-weather lifeboat.
The Sheerness RNLI all-weather lifeboat launched in the early hours of the morning on Monday 17 January to a 60 foot Dutch Barge in difficulties in the Thames Estuary.
The volunteer crew of the Sheerness RNLI all weather lifeboat Judith Copping Joyce launched with a crew of six at 4.59am on Monday 17 January 2022 after being tasked to a 60-foot Dutch Barge, with two men onboard, that had suffered machinery failure.
The casualty was found drifting in the area of ‘The Warps’, which is close to the North Oaze Buoy in the very busy Thames Estuary. Having made contact with the men onboard, who both reported being OK, a tow line was attached and the casualty craft was towed to the safety of Queenborough Harbour and made secure on the all-tide landing at 8.30am.
Having left Queenborough Harbour the lifeboat then proceeded up river to Gillingham Marina where she was booked in for her first routine six monthly ‘haul out’ for hull, turbo outlet cleaning and general inspection since arriving on station.
With cleaning and maintenance completed the ALB returned to station at 4.17pm.
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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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