Three RNLI lifeboats launch to a vessel in difficulty near the Isle of Bute
Just after 4.30pm on Sunday 12 June 2022, Belfast Coastguard was alerted to a Mayday call followed by a 999 call from a vessel with 10 persons on board in a position south west of the Isle of Bute.
The crew onboard reported that they may be taking on water and most on board were suffering from the effects of sea sickness due to the weather conditions on scene.
Belfast Coastguard immediately paged the volunteer RNLI lifeboat crews at Troon, Largs and Tighnabruaich as well as the Kames Coastguard Rescue Team.
Largs RNLI inshore lifeboat, Atlantic 85 R A Wilson and Tighnabruaich inshore lifeboat James and Helen Mason arrived on scene near to Scalpsie Point, on the western side of the Isle of Bute followed by Troon all-weather lifeboat RNLB Jim Moffat.
Initially 2 crew members from Largs lifeboat were transferred to the vessel assisted by one crew member from Troon. Initial casualty care was provided to the 8 adults and 2 children on board. On examination by the lifeboat crew, no further water ingress was found as the casualty vessel made its own way to the lee of Inchmarnock island.
The decision was then made in the lee of the island, that everyone aboard the casualty vessel would be transferred along with one Largs crew members to Troon all-weather lifeboat. All persons were then taken to Portavadie marina where they were transferred to the Kames Coastguard Team. As a precautionary measure all persons from the casualty vessel were assessed by a crew from the Scottish Ambulance service.
The casualty vessel was taken to Tighnabruaich by the remaining RNLI crew members on board where the vessel was placed onto a mooring buoy.
With all persons ashore, all lifeboats were then able to return to their respective stations where they were made ready for service.
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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