
A busy end to the week for the Sheerness RNLI Lifeboat crews.
The volunteer crew of the Sheerness RNLI Lifeboat station were tasked to four separate incidents in a twelve-hour period. The first launch was at 2.36pm on Friday19 July and the fourth at 2.09 am on Saturday 20 July 2024.
The first call out was for the all-weather lifeboat ‘Judith Copping Joyce’ which launched with a crew of six to reports of a jet ski, with two people onboard, that was drifting near number 4 buoy in the Medway Approach Channel.
On launching the lifeboat received an updated location for the casualty which was now given as number 4 Sea reach Buoy but with nothing seen in this area the ALB was run down tide and finally located the Jet Ski 1NM to the East.
Both the casualties were taken onboard the lifeboat and their craft was taken under tow to Queenborough Harbour.
The all-weather lifeboat crew were tasked again at 5.11pm to assist a 6.5 mtr. motor cruiser, with four people onboard, that had suffered mechanical issues and was drifting in the area of the Great Nore anchorage.
With the casualty located a towline was attached and the craft along with the four people was taken to the safety of Queenborough Harbour.
At 8.36pm the crew of the inshore lifeboat ‘Buster’ were tasked to a report of a small vessel thought to be in difficulties off Allhallows in the Thames estuary.
On arrival the ILB crew found two vessels at anchor with their occupants fishing and all reported to be OK. The lifeboat was stood down and returned to station.
The ILB crew were paged again at 2.09am on the 20 July and requested to muster and await instructions to attend a multi-agency incident at Rochester.
The crew stood by at the boathouse until it became evident, via VHF, that the situation had been resolved and they could stand down.
Ends
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.