
Troon and Arran RNLI lifeboats assist 45ft vessel off Pladda
At 3.10pm on Thursday 11 May 2023, the lifeboat crew pagers were activated by Belfast Coastguard to assist Arran RNLI lifeboat following a radio broadcast from the crew onboard a 45ft vessel off the coast of Pladda, to the south of Arran, that had suffered machinery problems.
Arran lifeboat, Atlantic 85 Rachel Hedderwick, and Arran Coastguard Team were initially tasked to the incident and Troon RNLI lifeboat was requested to assist due to the size of the vessel.
With the volunteer crew heading to the lifeboat station, Troon Trent class all-weather lifeboat RNLB Jim Moffat was soon underway and making best speed towards Pladda.
Arran lifeboat arrived on scene first and transferred a crewmember aboard to assess the situation and set up a tow.
On the arrival of the all-weather lifeboat, the Coxswain in conjunction with the Arran lifeboat helm and the crew aboard the casualty vessel, made the decision that the safest way to assist the casualty was to tow the vessel to the nearest suitable port.
The tow was transferred to the all-weather lifeboat and a course was established back towards Troon allowing Arran lifeboat to return to station.
About 6.30pm, both vessels arrived back in Troon and the casualty vessel was secured alongside with the assistance of the Ayr Coastguard Rescue Team.
The all-weather lifeboat then returned to the lifeboat berth where the lifeboat was made ‘ready for service’ with the assistance of the shore crew before the lifeboat crew headed home for some well-deserved dinner.
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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