Barry Dock RNLI helps crew on barge as RNLI anniversary service is marked
Whilst some of the Barry Dock crew were making their way to Llandaff Cathedral to commemorate 200 years of the RNLI yesterday, other crew members were launching into action to assist the crew of a barge that got into difficulty in the Bristol Channel.
The volunteer crew at Barry Dock RNLI were requested to launch their all-weather Trent class lifeboat Inner Wheel II yesterday morning (Saturday 27 April) to assist their colleagues from Portishead RNLI who were asked to assist the crew of a 49ft, 15 Dutch barge that had an engine failure at the Prince of Wales Bridge and was drifting further up the channel.
With a strong incoming tide and an easterly wind, the Barry Dock crew arrived on scene 45 minutes after launching. With both lifeboats on scene and able to assess the situation, given the strong currents and large ships in the channel that morning it was established that towing the vulnerable drifting barge to safe place would be the safest way to assist the crew on the vessel.
An astern tow was quickly established on the heavy barge and Barry Dock lifeboat crew assisted in bringing the vessel into Portishead marina. All occupants of the barge were safe and well, and with the Portishead crew no longer requiring any assistance, a quick turn around was made in the marine to head back home to Barry Dock.
The service in Llandaff Cathedral was a service of thanksgiving honouring 200 years of the RNLI saving lives at sea, and communities from around Wales were invited to come together to mark this milestone in the RNLI’s history. Barry Dock volunteer crew member Dave Phillips had the honour of being one of the RNLI standard bearer’s during the service, and the service was a moving tribute to honour the 13,195 lives saved at sea over the last 200 years.
Barry Dock RNLI's full-time coxswain Andy Gavin says of the day's events: 'Days like this are a fitting reminder of how great teamwork and regular training together as one crew ensures that when the pagers sound from a call for help, every eventuality is covered and our volunteer crews can keep on saving lives at sea.'
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