Gravesend RNLI tasked to vessel drifting with mechanical failure

RNLI Volunteer Aaron Reynolds said, ‘Once we arrived on scene at Tilburyness it became very clear it was not a small work boat, but in fact a very large tugboat, we provided a welfare check to the five people on board and then proceeded to request further assistance from the Port of London Authority.’

‘Their Harbour Launch Vessel Kew attended, a towline was setup so the vessel could be taken safely to Town Pier in Gravesend’.

Aaron added, ‘The house boat's engineer did the right thing by using the on board VHF radio to call for assistance, this prevented their vessel from becoming a hazard on the very busy commercial section of the River Thames with potential risk of collision.’

Gravesend RNLI’s Atlantic 85 lifeboat was then stood down, fuelled and made ready for service by 08:55am.

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Ashley Bard, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for Gravesend RNLI email [email protected]

Paul Dunt, Regional Media Officer (London and South East), on 07785 296 252 or email [email protected]

Julie Rainey, Regional Media Manager (South East), on 07827 358 256 or email [email protected]

RNLI online

For more information on the RNLI please visit rnli.org. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI News Centre rnli.org/news-and-media.

Key facts about Gravesend RNLI

Gravesend RNLI is one of the RNLI’s newest lifeboat stations and one of four lifeboat stations operating on the River Thames. The first stations to specifically cover a river rather than estuarial waters or the sea.

The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around Ireland and the UK. The RNLI operates 46 lifeboat stations in Ireland. The RNLI is independent of government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service.

Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, the charity has saved over 142,200 lives.

RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789 or email [email protected]

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.