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Whitby’s all weather lifeboat called to fishing vessel taking on water

Lifeboats News Release

The volunteer crew had an early start this morning (Wednesday 7th February) when the pagers sounded at 7.20am

RNLI/Richard Dowson

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The Shannon class lifeboat was launched immediately to locate the casualties who had alerted the coastguard that they were taking on water due to machinery failure.

The vessel was located about 15 nautical miles from Whitby, off the coast of Staithes.

Richard Dowson, who was coxswain on the shout said: ‘Thankfully the fisherman had a pump on board and had managed to pump out most of the water, they also managed to fix the initial problem, however it was decided that the safest course of action was to escort them back to Whitby harbour where they could ensure that the equipment was safe to use.

An RNLI crew member remained on board with a salvage pump to assist the crews incase the boat began to take on more water.

Incidents like this one are a good reminder to check safety equipment regularly and keep it maintained as you never know when you might need to use it.

If the crew hadn’t had a salvage pump and radio on board it could have been a very different outcome,’

The vessel was safely escorted to Whitby Harbour where the crew obtained repairs at the local boat yard before heading back to their home port in Blythe.

For more information contact Lifeboat Press Officer Ceri Oakes on 07813359428 or at [email protected]

RNLI/Richard Dowson

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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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About the author

Ceri Oakes
Lifeboat Press Officer, Whitby Lifeboat Station

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