Two calls in one day ends a busy 2018 for Arran RNLI
Arran RNLI’s volunteer crew had to retrieve an unidentified object in Lamlash bay and assist a creeling vessel that had run aground as a busy 2018 came to a close.
At 12.01pm the pagers sounded as an unidentified object had been spotted to the north of Lamlash Bay, however as the crew launched, they were diverted to a creeling vessel in need of urgent assistance.
This marked the 24th tasking for Arran RNLI’s volunteer crew, one more than the total for 2017. The volunteer crew used the speed of their Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Rachel Hedderwick to full effect as they raced to Lochranza and the grounded creeling vessel. After arriving the crew attached a tow line to the vessel and refloated her, eventually passing the tow to another creeling vessel who returned both vessels to their berths in Campbeltown. Upon their return to Lamlash the crew resolved their initial tasking of the day, locating what turned out to be a buoy that had came free. After locating the buoy the crew returned it to the shore to ensure it would not be a hazard to shipping in the area.
This marks the end of a busy 2018 for Arran RNLI with an average of two callouts every month. Helmsman Mark Nelson said "2018 has been one of the busiest years I've had in my 21 years at Arran RNLI. It goes to show that the hard work the shore and boat going crew put in throughout the year is well used and ensures we are ready to respond 24 hours a day 365 days a year."
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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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