
Port Talbot RNLI tasked to limping pleasure vessel
This morning (Saturday 31 August 2024) at 8.25am, on the last day of summer, Port Talbot RNLI volunteers were tasked by HM Coastguard to reports of a pleasure vessel with two persons on board off the month of the River Afan requiring assistance.
Struggling against the freshening easterly offshore winds and an ebbing tide with only their small ancillary engine which was struggling to maintain forward momentum.
On a sunny morning when most were enjoying a lay in, Port Talbot RNLI's volunteers were woken to their pagers sounding. Leaving homes in all sorts of bed wear, the wakening response was immediate making speedy but safe progress to the station.
Despite the relatively early weekend hour, the volunteer crew rapidly readied themselves for launch each knowing exactly their role, with crew changing, shore crew rapidly getting the boat and launch vehicle ready, launch authority briefing on the job in hand.
Within minutes of arriving at the station, the highly trained volunteer team were heading down the beach in readiness for the launch, to the last reported position of the stricken vessel.
The inshore lifeboat Craig Morris was launched promptly and set off to the position notified by HM Coastguard - North Pier at Aberavon Beach. Quickly covering the short distance to the location.
On arrival, Port Talbot RNLI Helm, Dai Jones completed a dynamic risk assessment. He considered the wind direction which was pushing the casualty vessel toward the Lee pier, as well as the struggling ancillary engine and rapidly ebbing tide restricting the time available for safe passage to the nearest port of safety. He decided that taking the vessel under tow was the safest option.
The highly experienced volunteer crew, knowing time was of the essence, used all their many hours of training to rapidly and professionally set up the long tow before switching to an alongside tow to manoeuvre the casualty vessel safely alongside their home pontoon.
Port Talbot RNLI Helm, Dai Jones said: 'The casualty vessel skipper did exactly the right thing in quickly assessing the effectiveness of their own self rescue, realising their progress wasn't rapid enough, and calling promptly for assistance. The casualties had all the right equipment, including an ancillary engine, life jackets and a means to call for assistance, but time was against them.'
Once the vessel was safely moored to their home pontoon, welfare checks completed with no further assistance required.
Port Talbot RNLI inshore lifeboat was recovered, refuelled and made ready for service, with the crew still in their bed wear deciding whether to recapture their lay in or commence their normal Saturday duties, until there are next called on to save lives at sea 24/7.
It has to be remembered that it takes a volunteer team consisting of crew, shore crew, launch vehicle drivers, launch authority, shop volunteers and fundraisers to launch every lifeboat. On this occasion, even early on a Saturday morning, we were able to have one launch vehicle driver launch, another one recover, and a third to manoeuvre the lifeboat back in to the boathouse. This shares the training and keeps all our volunteers in peak training condition.
RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact Port Talbot RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, Ceri Jeffreys on [email protected], or Claire Fitzpatrick-Smith, Regional Communications Manager on [email protected] or 07977 728 315.
Alternatively, you can contact the RNLI Press Office on [email protected] or 01202 336789.
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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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.