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Port Talbot RNLI tasked to assist The Mumbles RNLI all-weather lifeboat

Lifeboats News Release

This evening (Wednesday 17 July 2024) at 5.43pm, RNLI volunteers were tasked by HM Coastguard to assist The Mumbles RNLI all-weather lifeboat to a broken down fishing vessel with two persons on board.

Port Talbot RNLI Launching to rendezvous with Mumbles RNLI

RNLI/Ceri Jeffreys

Port Talbot RNLI Launching to rendezvous with Mumbles RNLI

Despite most volunteers just getting home from work and settling down for their tea, they dropped everything to the sound of their pagers arriving to the station as quickly as the rush hour traffic allowed.

On a bright sunny evening with a glorious setting sun, our volunteer crew launched the inshore lifeboat Craig Morris quickly and safely to rendezvous with The Mumbles RNLI all-weather lifeboat crew at the yellow Defuser Buoys, west of the station.

The Mumbles lifeboat crew had been task by HM Coastguard to a broken down fishing vessel whose home port was the Monkstone Yacht Club on the River Neath. The Mumbles RNLI coxswain carried out a risk assessment, and noting the fast ebbing neap tide reducing available safe ports, the vessel's casualty sea sickness, and their closeness to busy shipping channels, it was deemed the boat had a serious risk to navigation, which could lead to a risk to life if the boat was not brought to safety. So the decision was made to set up and tow, with the coxswain also requesting via the Coastguard, that Port Talbot RNLI could take over the tow due to fast receding tidal conditions in the River Neath.

On arrival at the Defuser Buoys, Port Talbot's inshore lifeboat crew skilfully took over the tow and proceeded at best, safe speed towards the River Neath. Local knowledge of the river and tidal conditions meant the inshore lifeboat proceeded with caution towards the Monkstone Marina, with the helm looking at known land marks to determine the tidal conditions as they proceed down the river, discussing what they surveyed with the rest of the highly experienced volunteer crew members.

It was concluded that there would be insufficient water to get into the marina. A quick dynamic risk assessment came up with an alternative plan of action to place the casualty vessel on safety moorings in the river. Once safely secured, the casualties were transferred to the inshore lifeboat and taken ashore.

Final checks were made as to the well being of the causalities and once satisfied all was well, the crew made careful progress down the river using local knowledge to avoid sand bars at the mouth of the river, returning to their launch site with their back to the setting sun.

Port Talbot RNLI inshore lifeboat was recovered, refuelled and made ready for service, with the crew returning to their evenings at home and the casualties safe and well.

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.

Port Talbot RNLI Launching to rendezvous with Mumbles RNLI

RNLI/Ceri Jeffreys

Port Talbot RNLI Launching to rendezvous with Mumbles RNLI
Port Talbot RNLI rendezvous with Mumbles RNLI

RNLI/Ceri Jeffreys

Port Talbot RNLI rendezvous with Mumbles RNLI
Port Talbot RNLI returning for recovery in the setting sun

RNLI/Ceri Jeffreys

Port Talbot RNLI returning for recovery in the setting sun
Port Talbot RNLI returning for recovery

RNLI/Ceri Jeffreys

Port Talbot RNLI returning for recovery
Port Talbot RNLI returning for recovery

RNLI/Ceri Jeffreys

Port Talbot RNLI returning for recovery

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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