Dover RNLI rescues 10m cruiser adrift in the Channel

Arriving on scene approximately 30 minutes after the page was received, Dover's volunteer crew found the cruiser around three nautical miles off the coast of Folkstone.

Located in poor visibility and with all casualties checked over, an assessment was carried out and the decision was taken to take the vessel under tow to Dover Harbour by the station's Severn Class All-Weather Lifeboat (ALB) City of London II. Once there it was safely moored and the crew stood down, while the lifeboat was prepared for its next callout.

According to Danny Wilkins, Dover's newly appointed Coxswain:

'Having reached the scene of the tasking the crew applied a tow and brought the cruiser back to the safety of Dover Harbour. If you ever have an engine problem at sea and require assistance, we would always suggest you not wait and contact the Coastguard immediately for assistance.'

As the largest vessel in the fleet, Dover's Severn Class ALB is able to respond to a variety of taskings and is frequently tasked by the Coastguard to vessels in distress.

Key facts about the RNLI

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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Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.