Lough Derg RNLI launched on Sunday afternoon (5 May) to assist a family of four on board a 28ft cruiser reported to be on fire.
Following the request by Valentia Coast Guard just before noon, the inshore lifeboat Jean Spier was under way by 12.16pm with helm Eleanor Hooke and crew Doireann Kennedy, Joe O’Donoghue and Tom Hayes on board. The wind was westerly Force 2 and visibility was very good.
As the lifeboat was launching, the coastguard informed the volunteers that the family — two adults and two infants — had been taken off the casualty vessel and that Killaloe Coast Guard had also launched to assist.
At 12.26am the lifeboat crew could see the casualty vessel just south of Lough Derg Navigation Mark E. The family had transferred onto a 18ft fishing boat which was standing off close by.
A few minutes later the lifeboat came alongside the fishing vessel and found the casualties to be safe, unharmed and wearing their lifejackets.
The skipper of the casualty vessel informed the lifeboat crew that when he noticed smoke and an acrid smell coming from the engine housing, he immediately shut down the engine and with that, the smoke ceased. They were unable to deploy their anchor as it required the engine to be running to operate.
Once satisfied that sufficient time had elapsed and the engine had cooled, the RNLI helm permitted the skipper and an RNLI volunteer to board the casualty vessel.
The skipper found that a piece of cloth was in contact with the engine’s exhaust system, and identified it as the source of the smoke and smell. The cloth was removed and the casualty vessel’s engine started immediately when tried.
The lifeboat informed the coastguard of their findings and of the decision to take one adult and the children onto the lifeboat from the fishing vessel, and to accompany the casualty vessel to Dromineer Harbour with the skipper and an RNLI volunteer on board.
However, at 12.45pm the engine on the casualty vessel failed. As Killaloe Coast Guard were now on scene, the RNLI helm requested that the mother and two infants be transferred to the coastguard lifeboat and be taken ahead to Dromineer.
Given the remote location and the inability to secure the cruiser, the helm made the decision to take the casualty vessel under tow to the closest safe harbour in Dromineer, where it was safely tied alongside at 1.44pm.
Christine O’Malley, lifeboat operations Manager at Lough Derg RNLI, advises boat users: “As we are now heading into the summer season, remember to have your vessel fully serviced before embarking on your journey. If you find yourself in difficulty, call 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard.”