
A busy week for the Sheerness RNLI lifeboat crew
The crew continue to be kept busy, not just at sea on rescues but also with ongoing training to bring them up to the high standards required by the RNLI.
On Wednesday 19 July we had 2 Trainer/Assessors on station to progress some of the crew plans. All went extremely well, with the following crew members being successful in their assessments:
Aaron passed his ILB crew anchor and veering tests
Jason passed his ILB Helm towing and boat handling tests.
Tom passed his ALB Coxswain towing and boat handling test.
Well done to you all and well deserved for the many hours you have put in to achieve these high standards and highly rated skills.
The crew of both the Sheerness RNLI Lifeboats have been busy again this week with three callouts so far.
The crew of the inshore lifeboat ‘Buster’ were paged at 2.35am on Thursday 20 July with a request from the UK Coastguard to attend a multi-agency incident at Gillingham Pier.
Launching at 2.55am with a crew of three the lifeboat was on scene 3.20am. With the incident successfully resolved the ILB was released at 5.00am and back on station at 5.20am.
Light airs, calm seas and good vis, ebb tide.
The inshore lifeboat launched again later that day at 3.00 pm with a request from the UK Coastguard to assist a small angling boat with machinery failure.
The craft with five people onboard was reported to be situated close to Number 10 buoy in the busy Medway approach channel.
With a crew of three the lifeboat located the casualty at 3.07pm and with a towline quickly deployed the fishing boat was towed into Queenborough Harbour and secured on its owners mooring at 4.07pm.
The ILB was back on station at 4.15pm.
Wind E f3, calm seas with good visibility on the first ebb tide.
The all-weather lifeboat ‘Judith Copping Joyce’ was tasked at 6.51am on Friday 21 July with a request to assist a 40' motor cruiser that was drifting out of Queenborough Harbour after a mooring failure. There were no persons reported to be onboard.
The lifeboat launched at 7.05am with a crew of six and located the casualty at 7.15am. A crew member was put onboard to attach a towline. The craft was then towed to the all-tide landing where it was secured at 7.30am.
The ALB was back on her mooring and ready for further service at 8.15am.
Wind N3,calm seas, good vis, ebb tide.
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
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.