
Fowey lifeboat called out to broken down boat
On June 11 Fowey lifeboat was launched to assist a broken down Bayliner with two people on board. The vessel had no VHF. The people had tried calling the holiday park where they were staying, but their mobile phone battery went flat, so there was little information to go on.
The coastguard requested that the lifeboat be launched and Fowey volunteer crew set-off at 5pm with 7 crew onboard. During their passage, Charlestown NCI had located the vessel off Black Head and were able to give the lifeboat a bearing and approximate distance. As the lifeboat arrived on scene, a local rib had already picked up the boat and was taking it back to Pentewan. The lifeboat was stood down and returned to Fowey Station.
Fowey coxswain, Jonathan Pritchard said: ‘It is important to always have a suitable means of calling for help onboard. We would recommend carrying a personal or vessel VHF/DSC device, capable of transmitting a DSC distress alert, which is a recognised emergency signal, it also transmits your location. Ensure that the batteries are fully charged and that it is in good working order before setting out. It is also advisable to carry a fully charged mobile phone when out on the water, kept in a waterproof pouch, worn on your person so it is within easy reach. Smart phones can provide a location, but emergency calls should be made by voice to 999 or 112, ask for the coastguard.’
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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