
Both Harwich lifeboats launched to assist a stricken motorboat.
At 6:41pm on 2 September, the Harwich ILB (Inshore Lifeboat) received a distress call about a motorboat in trouble near South Felixstowe.
The Felixstowe Coastguard Rescue Team promptly arrived on the scene and reported individuals in the water attempting to get the boat afloat.
The ILB arrived shortly after and, with their expert assistance, managed to restart the motorboat's engine. The boat initially set a course for Levington Marina, but it encountered further difficulties and ran aground near Shotley. The shallow waters made it impossible for the ILB to get alongside them. As the light was fading, and concerns for the casualties who had been in the water grew, the ALB (All-Weather Lifeboat) was launched at 8:15pm to assist.
The ALB carries a Y boat (a smaller daughter boat) that was deployed to reach the stranded casualties. With the tide starting to rise, the team successfully re-floated the vessel and towed it into Levington Marina. They arrived at their destination at 8:30pm.
During this operation, we want to acknowledge the invaluable support of Felixstowe Coastguard, Holbrook Coastguard, and special thanks to Felixstowe Coastwatch for their assistance at the beginning of this incident.
Notes to Editor
- The RNLI is the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.
- Harwich RNLI is based on The Quay, Harwich. The lifeboat station was founded in 1829 and the volunteer crew use an all-weather Severn class lifeboat (ALB) The Duke of Kent and B class lifeboat (ILB) Tierney, Harvey and Sonny Reid.
- This week the RNLI launched its latest Launch a Memory lifeboat which will act as a relief vessel to stations across the British Isles. It proudly carries the names of 10,000 loved ones as part of the charity's latest fundraiser. More details can be seen
here.
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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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