Portaferry RNLI crew assist seven people after RIB suffers engine failure
Portaferry RNLI volunteer crew pagers sounded at 11.40am on Saturday morning (8th November) after the alarm was raised that a rigid inflatable boat (RIB) with seven people onboard had suffered engine failure south of the Fairway buoy, at the entrance to Strangford Lough.
The lifeboat made best speed, against an incoming tide, toward the Fairway Buoy but on arrival the casualty vessel was observed to have drifted to a location just less than a mile east of the buoy. Once on scene the crew observed all seven passengers to be safe and well, but with the RIB drifting and with no means of fixing their engine, the decision was made to establish a tow and bring the casualties to safety.
Speaking after the call out, Portaferry RNLI volunteer helm, Oliver Rogers, commented: 'The casualties did the right thing to ask for assistance as soon as the engine failed.
'When the casualty vessel was located, it had drifted quite a distance from where it had been when the engine had failed, and we faced big swells despite there being just a gentle breeze.
'We would remind all boat owners to check their vessel's engine before going out onto the water. Always check the weather and tides before venturing out, wear a lifejacket or suitable personal flotation device for your activity and always carry a means of calling for help. Should you get into difficulty or see someone else in trouble, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.'
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The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.
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