RNLI lifeboat launched to provide safety cover.
The Sheerness RNLI all-weather lifeboat was launched to provide safety cover after an explosion onboard a 5000-tonne vessel in Sheerness Docks.
The volunteer crew of the Sheerness all-weather lifeboat ‘Judith Copping Joyce’ launched at 9.20pm on Wednesday 23 October after being tasked to provide safety cover following an explosion, in which a crewman was injured, onboard the 5000 tonne, 120meter long ‘Cemisle’ cement carrying vessel moored on number three berth in Sheerness Docks.
The standby request was made by Kent Fire and Rescue, who along with Paramedics and the Sheppey Coastguard Rescue Team had been in attendance since approximately 7.30pm.
The lifeboat crew were asked to standby whilst the KFR teams made ready a high-volume water pump and proceeded to carry out checks on the vessel’s compartments for further fire or explosion risk.
Following the checks the ALB was stood down and returned to her moorings at 11.20pm.
Weather: light airs, calm seas with good visibility on the ebb tide.
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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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