
Wells RNLI inshore lifeboat launches to grounded 15 metre fishing vessel.
Wells RNLI All-weather lifeboat was paged by HM Coastguard at 1:12am on Wednesday 14 August 2024 to a 15 metre Dutch fishing vessel with two people on-board.
The fishing vessel had run aground near the Pool buoy within Wells harbour, on its way up to the quayside having travelled from Den Helder.
The vessel’s lights were visible from the lifeboat station and the situation was assessed and it was decided to launch the inshore lifeboat, due to the location of the vessel.
The inshore lifeboat D-797 with a volunteer crew of three launched at 1:25am and was quickly alongside the vessel at 1:30am.
The crew assessed the situation and found the fishing vessel was hard aground.
The two crew were well and needed no medical assistance. After discussions between the inshore lifeboat crew and the boat’s crew, it was decided they were ok to stay on-board and to lay anchors out, and in daylight attempt to free the vessel themselves on the following tide.
The inshore was stood down and departed the scene at 1:40am and was rehoused and made ready again for service by 2:00am.
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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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