A busy morning for the Sheerness RNLI Lifeboats
The volunteer crews of both the Sheerness lifeboats had just launched on exercise on the morning of Sunday 1 October when they were tasked to the first of three separate callouts in quick succession.
On Sunday 1 October at 11.00am both the Sheerness RNLI lifeboats had launched on exercise when they were tasked by the UK Coastguard to assist a motor cruiser that was suffering mechanical issues and drifting close to number 1 Jetty on the Isle of Grain. The inshore lifeboat with a crew of three was first on the scene and requested the all-weather lifeboat with its crew of six to attend and take the casualty under tow.
Once on scene the ALB established the tow and proceeded upriver to Gillingham Reach where the casualty was safely secured to a buoy.
Whilst the ALB was engaged on this incident another call came through for the crew to assist a yacht with two people and a dog onboard that was hard aground with its bow actually up on the salting’s in Stangate Creek in the Medway Estuary and reported to be taking on water at the stern.
Making best speed the inshore lifeboat arrived on scene and immediately took the two people and the dog off the yacht, from where they were taken and transferred to the all-weather lifeboat, which had returned up-river from the first call.
The two people plus their little dog Luna from were taken back to the boathouse and made comfortable and make arrangements to be picked up.
No sooner was this job completed than both crews were then tasked to another yacht in trouble, again in Stangate Creek, with reports that its anchor chain was fouled around the crafts keel.
With both boats on the scene and some skilful boat handling by the ALB crew the anchor chain was cleared and the yacht was able to proceed with no further problems.
All three incidents occurred around the same time and both lifeboats were back on station and ready for further service at 3.40pm.
The yacht that was aground ended up mainly submerged and the owner is reported to be making his own arrangements for recovery.
Wind SW4, good visibility and a high Spring flood tide.
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.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.