Portaferry RNLI launches twice in less than 12 hours

The volunteer crew launched at 1:10pm in cloudy weather conditions with good visibility and a force three south westerly winds. The Portaferry crew arrived on scene at 1:30pm with good visibility.

When on scene the Portaferry lifeboat crew carried out a search pattern to attempt to locate the Emergency Positioning Indicating Radio Beacon. The crew searched the area of Don O’Neill Island within Strangford lough. Portaferry Coastguard team also aided the search from Marlfield Bay.

After 40 minutes of searching the area nothing was found and at 2:10pm both units stood down.

The volunteer crew launched later that evening at 8:50pm to overcast weather conditions with good visibility and a force three south easterly winds, the sea state at time of launch was calm. The lifeboat crew arrived on scene at 9:27pm with good visibility.

The Portaferry lifeboat crew were requested to launch as Belfast Coastguard had received further information that a different position of the Emergency Positioning Indicating Radio Beacon was in the area of East Down Yacht Club. Portaferry volunteer crew carried out a search pattern of the area. Portaferry Coastguard team and Rescue Helicopter R199 also aided the search.

After three hours of searching with nothing found, at 12:30am, Portaferry RNLI departed the scene and returned to station.

Ends

RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact Jordan Conway Portaferry RNLI Volunteer Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer Tel: 086 8075253 email: [email protected] or Niamh Stephenson RNLI Public Relations Manager Tel: 087 1254 124 / 01 8900 460 email [email protected] or Nuala McAloon RNLI Press Officer Tel: 087 6483547 email: [email protected]

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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 142,700 lives.

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