Launches & Call Outs

Thursday 3rd September 2009

Lifeboats  RNLB Jim Moffat

Op. No     14-38

O.N              1275                                                        

Launch Time              23:25 BST

RTS Time                01:50 BST

Wind State              N.N/W Gale Force 7 - 8

Sea State                Rough (to 3m)

Visibility                  Moderate/Poor

Service Description;

The RNLI All weather Lifeboat crew were paged at 23:25 last night to go to the aid of the fishing vessel ‘Spes-Bona V’ which had reported to the Coastguard that a fuel hose in the engine room had ruptured, the crew of the fishing vessel had cause to shut-down the engine and began to drift. A request for immediate assistance was made to the Coastguard.

Clyde Coastguard paged the RNLI All Weather Lifeboat crew last night to go to the aid of a vessel which had experienced engine failure with five people onboard approximately eight miles North West of Troon, closing Ardrossan and in need of assistance.

Troon RNLI Lifeboats were requested to assist and located the vessel using the estimated position given and radar. The weather was from the North / North West with the wind blowing near gale force 7 – 8 with rough seas running to 3 metre.

Once the fishing vessel had been located, lines were successfully passed and the vessel taken under a heavy-tow by crew members of the RNLI All Weather Lifeboat. The safe, although slow, journey back to Troon with worsening weather conditions took through to the early hours of the following morning.

On completion of the service the RNLI All Weather Lifeboat returned to Troon RNLI Lifeboat Station and was made ready for service. The RNLI Lifeboat crew stood down at 01:50.

Joe Millar, Coxswain for Troon’s RNLI lifeboats “The Lifeboat was launched to aid in the safe recovery of this vessel with five people on board. The lifeboat crew are all trained in the techniques used to locate the casualty vessel and seamanship required to undergo this heavy-tow through bad weather and at night, only good teamwork could ensure the speedy actions needed to ensure that the vessel could be escorted safely back to the harbour at Troon. The safe operations when working as a ‘team’ and ensuring that all efforts were made to undertake the safe and timely return of the five sailors and their vessel back to Troon can be attributed to the very high level of team work and training that all crew members acquire during their time as volunteers with the RNLI.”

The safe and speedy launch and recovery of both RNLI Lifeboats was ably assisted by members of the RNLI Lifeboats Shore Crew at Troon RNLI Lifeboat Station.

ALB Crew – 1 – 5 -6 - 9 - 12 - 14 - 20