RNLI Port Talbot Lifeboat tasked to reports of a fishing vessel in difficulty

RNLI Port Talbot volunteers were paged at 1:57pm, and despite it being a workday for most crew, the response was rapid, launching within minutes of the pager sounding.

Conditions were blustery and the rapidly freshening Easterly wind created a very short, sharp, steep sea. The volunteer crew made best safe speed to the last reported position of the casualty vessel, which was initially reported by a member of the public on the shoreline.

On the arrival the highly experienced crew, made up of three senior helms, were able to ascertain that the casualty vessel, which had two persons on board, had managed to innovatively create a pull cord from a scrap piece of rope allowing them to restart their engine. This initiative by the owners helped circumnavigate the electrical fault that had caused the engine to fail.

As sea conditions were rapidly deteriorating, a dynamic risk assessment was carried out by the lifeboat crew and it was decided to escort the vessel to the safety of their home port, just in case the engine failure reoccurred.

The casualty had all the correct safety equipment and a means to call for assistance. The first informer on shore did exactly the right thing noticing the vessel appearing to be in difficulties, calling 999 and requesting the Coastguard.

Once safely alongside their pontoon, Port Talbot RNLI lifeboat returned to the launch site, washing down, refuelling and was made ready for the next service.

Clive Morris Lifeboat Operations Manager said: ‘This is another excellent example of our volunteer crew's commitment to saving lives at sea, responding to a call for assistance even during the working day. I would like to thank our crew for their commitment and their employers for allowing them to respond'.

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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