
RNLI Clacton launch to vessel with mayday call
On Sunday 13 August 2023 just before 9.30am, Clacton-on-Sea volunteer crews received a call of a report of a large 42ft motor vessel declaring a mayday distress call.
The volunteer crew launched their Atlantic 85 class lifeboat David Porter MPS into slight and overcast sea conditions and headed directly to the reported location between Clacton and Gunfleet sands windfarm. It was additionally reported the vessel had engine failure and had no steering with two people and pets aboard.
Enroute to the reported location our crew established radio communications with the vessel and a new location was provided, approximately 1 nautical mile Northeast of the wallet spit way.
Upon arrival on the scene, a lifeboat crew member was safely transferred to the vessel and performed checks on the engine, which was found to be in working order, although had recently overheated. Further investigation of the steering of the vessel found it was defective. The crew in conjunction with the coast guard downgraded the call priority from mayday to pan-pan status as the situation was fully under control.
The crew quickly drew up a plan to escort the vessel to outer Crouch buoy number 4, which the crew successfully did, retrieving their crew member back onto the lifeboat and passing the vessel and occupants into the care of our flank station from Burnham on Sea for their onward passage.
The crew proceeded back to the lifeboat station where the lifeboat was cleaned, refuelled and ready for service just after noon, and would like to thank the crew from Burnham on Sea for their assistance.
RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact:
Mark Walsham, RNLI Clacton volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07468511158, or
[email protected]
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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