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St Bees RNLI launched to assist motor cruiser

Lifeboats News Release

St Bees RNLI volunteers were paged on Monday 27 March at 17.48pm to go to the assistance of a motor cruiser in distress near Whitehaven

RNLI/Joseph Raymond

St Bees RNLI approach casualty vessel

The lifeboat was requested to launch by the Coastguard in order to assess the situation. The initial report indicated that the vessel with one person onboard was travelling from Conway to Whitehaven when it suffered an engine over heat and was unable to make way.

The lifeboat was launched within 15 minutes of the pagers sounding and the crew were able to quickly to locate the vessel due to excellent visibility and a calm sea state.

Upon reaching the vessel, the helm carried out a dynamic risk assessment and decided that a tow was necessary and the safest way to assist the casualty. The vessel was then towed to the nearest safe and suitable port, Whitehaven Harbour.

As soon as the motor cruiser was safely secured in the harbour, the lifeboat returned to station to be made ready for the next service after an hour and a half at sea.

Notes to editors

● St Bees lifeboat station has been operating since 1970. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to http://www.rnli.org.uk/StBees

RNLI media contacts

For more information please telephone Joe Raymond, St Bees RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07742207222 [email protected] or Claire Elshaw, Regional Media Officer on 07468 353082 or [email protected] or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.



RNLI/Joseph Raymond

St Bees RNLI with casualty vessel in an alongside tow into Whitehaven harbour

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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

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.

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