Donaghadee RNLI Volunteers Launch To Survey Vessel In Distress

The crew were paged at 6.52pm on Thursday 02 April by HM Coastguard after they received a mayday from the 9 metre vessel as it had lost engine power and was drifting close to rocks at Crammog Head on the Mull of Galloway.

The Trent class lifeboat Macquarie launched with a crew of 7 onboard under the command of Coxswain John Ashwood and the first call out for Calum Butler as mechanic. In challenging conditions with a south/south westerly wind and force 6-7 they made best speed to the last reported location of the wind turbine survey vessel.

Knowing that the boat had no engine power and unsure as to whether the boat had managed to get an anchor secured the coxswain requested that a towline be made ready in preparation for assisting the adrift boat. Upon arrival the crew observed that the boat was right under Crammog Head and dangerously close to the rocks, HM Coastguard Rescue 199 helicopter had also arrived from Prestwick and was also on scene. Thankfully crew of the boat had just managed to restart their engine and was making slow headway out of their situation.

Portpatrick Coastguard were able to advise that the leading lights into Portpatrick Harbour weren’t working and that it wasn’t viable for the casualty vessel to seek safety there, after communicating with the Coastguard and the survey vessel, it was agreed that Donaghadee Lifeboat would escort the boat up the coast and into the safety of Loch Ryan. Once they got to Corsewall Point, the crew of the lifeboat adjusted their course and made for Donaghadee.

In extremely challenging seas they made their way back to Donaghadee, arriving into the harbour at approximately 2am and made Macquarie ready for her next service.

Speaking following the call out, Coxswain John Ashwood commented ‘The survey vessel did exactly the right thing in requesting help as soon as they realized they were in difficulty as they were certainly close to hitting the rocks under Crammog Head. It is of course great news that they were able to get their engines restarted, a good outcome all round. I must commend my fellow crew members, the seas were certainly rough and the journey home was long and very uncomfortable, they were, as always a great team to work with’

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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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