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Aldeburgh RNLI launched to aid ketch with electrical failure

Lifeboats News Release

On Sunday 1 December, the Coastguard tasked Aldeburgh RNLI at 4.15pm to make an assessment on a 43 foot Ketch that had lost all internal power and navigational lights.

RNLI/Susie Potter

Launching the Aldeburgh Atlantic 85, 1 December 2024
It was approximately one mile off the coast from Sizewell. The yacht had one person on board and was on passage from Lowestoft to Harwich.

The Aldeburgh Atlantic 85 Lifeboat was launched at 4.30pm and proceeded to the location provided. However, the position had been taken from a mobile phone signal 30 minutes previously and it took the volunteer lifeboat crew some time to locate the casualty vessel in the dark. The vessel's engine was still running and it was making slow progress in a southerly direction.

A crew member from the Atlantic lifeboat was transferred onto the yacht to assess the situation and it was decided the safest option was to escort the vessel to the nearest safe harbour at Southwold.

As progress was slow, the Coastguard tasked the Southwold lifeboat to assist in the operation and their crew launched at approximately 6.21pm to rendezvous with the Aldeburgh lifeboat. When they arrived on scene it was decided that both crews would escort the casualty back to Southwold harbour and they arrived at 7.45pm.

The Aldeburgh lifeboat left the scene at 8.10pm and travelled back to Aldeburgh arriving at 8.41pm. The boat was cleaned, refuelled and put back on service at 9.25pm.

The RNLI advises that if you are in a boat that needs urgent assistance, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard. Give as precise a location as you are able. If your onboard navigation has failed, WhatThreeWords can provide a reliable position at sea, as well at on land.

Notes to editors
The RNLI was founded in 1824. More than 146,000 lives have been saved since 1824.

Aldeburgh lifeboat station has been operating since 1826 and has been part of the RNLI since 1852. Since formation, their lifeboats have launched 1,267 times and saved 693 lives.

Aldeburgh lifeboat station has two boats on service: Atlantic 85, Howard Bell, and D-class inshore lifeboat, Susan Scott.

RNLI Media contacts
For more information, please contact Jo Litt, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer: [email protected] or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789 or at [email protected]

RNLI/Susie Potter

Launching the Aldeburgh Atlantic 85, 1 December 2024

RNLI/Susie Potter

Launching the Aldeburgh Atlantic 85, 1 December 2024

RNLI/Kurt Pearse

Recovering the Aldeburgh Atlantic 85, from the tractor driver's perspective, 1 December 2024

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.

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