Lifeboat launches to motor vessel drifting towards cliffs

The reported position was 1nm west off St Albans Head and a route was quickly plotted to that location. On arrival, no vessels were detected in the area by eye or by RADAR.

HM Coastguard were able to supply an updated position and information that the vessel had managed to get an anchor to hold - but they were very close to cliffs. The new position was plotted, 0.2nm southwest of Lulworth Cove and the lifeboat was alongside about 30 minutes after launching.

Two volunteer crew were placed aboard to assess the situation. The volunteers quickly requested the Shannon class lifeboat's powerful salvage pump as the motor boat had a significant ingress of water, the pump was soon in use emptying the 40' boat's bilges.

The vessel was intending to head west and there was now a strong ebb tide flowing towards Portland, so our flank station, Weymouth, launched their Severn class lifeboat to carry out a tow.

At 10.15pm, with the light now gone, Weymouth lifeboat placed two of their crew on board, cut the anchor and secured a tow to take the boat down tide to the safety of Weymouth.

When the tow was settled and some more sea-room was available the Swanage lifeboat went alongside to recover equipment and personnel. With the casualty now under the control of Weymouth lifeboat, the Shannon class Swanage boat returned to station where it was re-fuelled and washed down just before midnight

ALB Crew: (Coxn) Robert Aggas, Steve Williams, Gavin Steeden, John Deas, Fergus Holley, Adam O'Neill

Shore Crew: (Head Launcher) Gary Buglass, (Winchman) Dave Turnbull, Archie Burgess, Jeremy Stein, Neil Collings

For more information please contact:
Becky Mack, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, [email protected]
Charmaine Tideswell, Volunteer Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer, [email protected]
Regional Media Manager Hatti Mellor, [email protected]
or the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.

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