Dunbar’s Volunteers Called Out to Small Boat Drifting Without Power
Dunbar RNLI’s two lifeboats came to the aid of anglers whose small boat suffered engine failure and drifted onto concrete blocks at Torness Power Station on Wednesday (May 31).
The two fishermen raised the alarm at 4.50pm when their engine failed around three hours after launching from Dunbar Harbour. The boat drifted onto the concrete dolosse that form the harbour at Torness.
Both lifeboats were launched, with the inshore (ILB) leaving from Dunbar Harbour at 5.05pm, and the all-weather (ALB) launching from Torness at 5.15pm. Both boats were on scene at 5.20pm.
Initially, Dunbar’s mobile coastguard team, who were also in attendance, managed to throw a line to the anglers and pulled the boat to a small jetty. There, the ILB crew were able to tow the boat to safety and the two anglers were transferred to the waiting ALB.
Both lifeboats then made their way to Dunbar, where the ILB towed the boat into the harbour for recovery, before collecting the two anglers and bringing them ashore. Due to low tide, the ALB was unable to access the harbour.
Coxswain Gary Fairbairn said: “Due to the state of the tide, it was necessary to launch both boats as the ILB was able to reach the casualty vessel in low water. The ALB was then able to help bring the two casualties back to Dunbar, while the ILB towed the boat. The incident shows the importance of having both boats here at Dunbar.
“The shout was also notable as it gave our trainee ILB helm Jamie Forrester a chance to experience being in command during a service call.”
If you get into difficulty at sea call 999 and ask for the coastguard.
RNLI media contacts
Douglas Wight, Dunbar RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer [email protected]
Natasha Bennett, RNLI Regional Media Officer for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]
Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Media Manager for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]
RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789
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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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