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Lough Derg Lifeboat Launches to Assist Cruiser Adrift With Engine Failure

12th July 2024
Lough Derg RNLI’s inshore lifeboat speeds to the 20ft cruiser that had suffered engine failure west of Garrykennedy Harbour on Thursday evening 11 July
Lough Derg RNLI’s inshore lifeboat speeds to the 20ft cruiser that had suffered engine failure west of Garrykennedy Harbour on Thursday evening 11 July Credit: RNLI/Eleanor Hooker

Lough Derg RNLI launched to the aid of seven on a 20ft cruiser that had suffered engine failure and was drifting towards rocks west of Garrykennedy Harbour on Thursday evening (11 July).

At 4.45pm, Lough Derg’s inshore lifeboat Jean Spier launched on the request of Valentia Coast Guard with helm Eleanor Hooker and crew Owen Cavanagh and Joe O’Donoghue on board. Weather conditions had a north-westerly Force 4 wind and good visibility.

Meanwhile, other boats in the vicinity hailed Valentia Coast Guard to say they were also making way to assist. The area where the casualty vessel was located is known locally for its choppy waters and sudden shallows.

As the lifeboat approached the location, Valentia Coast Guard informed the lifeboat that a small speedboat had taken the casualty vessel, with two adults and five children on board, under tow to safe water.

The lifeboat was requested to continue to attend and arrived on scene at 4.55pm. There were two motor cruisers standing by, and the small speed boat, having heard the call for help, had left Garrykennedy Harbour bringing a 5L can of fuel.

Once in safe water the casualty vessel refuelled and was able to make way under its own power. All on board the casualty vessel were safe and unharmed and wearing their lifejackets.

At the request of Valentia Coast Guard, the lifeboat accompanied the casualty vessel to the safety of Garrykennedy Harbour.

Mary Hurley, launching authority at Lough Derg RNLI advises boat users to “make sure you plan your route before setting out. Always carry sufficient fuel for your journey and carry a reliable means of communication.”

Published in RNLI Lifeboats
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Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) in Ireland Information

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is a charity to save lives at sea in the waters of UK and Ireland. Funded principally by legacies and donations, the RNLI operates a fleet of lifeboats, crewed by volunteers, based at a range of coastal and inland waters stations. Working closely with UK and Ireland Coastguards, RNLI crews are available to launch at short notice to assist people and vessels in difficulties.

RNLI was founded in 1824 and is based in Poole, Dorset. The organisation raised €210m in funds in 2019, spending €200m on lifesaving activities and water safety education. RNLI also provides a beach lifeguard service in the UK and has recently developed an International drowning prevention strategy, partnering with other organisations and governments to make drowning prevention a global priority.

Irish Lifeboat Stations

There are 46 lifeboat stations on the island of Ireland, with an operational base in Swords, Co Dublin. Irish RNLI crews are tasked through a paging system instigated by the Irish Coast Guard which can task a range of rescue resources depending on the nature of the emergency.

Famous Irish Lifeboat Rescues

Irish Lifeboats have participated in many rescues, perhaps the most famous of which was the rescue of the crew of the Daunt Rock lightship off Cork Harbour by the Ballycotton lifeboat in 1936. Spending almost 50 hours at sea, the lifeboat stood by the drifting lightship until the proximity to the Daunt Rock forced the coxswain to get alongside and successfully rescue the lightship's crew.

32 Irish lifeboat crew have been lost in rescue missions, including the 15 crew of the Kingstown (now Dun Laoghaire) lifeboat which capsized while attempting to rescue the crew of the SS Palme on Christmas Eve 1895.

FAQs

While the number of callouts to lifeboat stations varies from year to year, Howth Lifeboat station has aggregated more 'shouts' in recent years than other stations, averaging just over 60 a year.

Stations with an offshore lifeboat have a full-time mechanic, while some have a full-time coxswain. However, most lifeboat crews are volunteers.

There are 46 lifeboat stations on the island of Ireland

32 Irish lifeboat crew have been lost in rescue missions, including the 15 crew of the Kingstown (now Dun Laoghaire) lifeboat which capsized while attempting to rescue the crew of the SS Palme on Christmas Eve 1895

In 2019, 8,941 lifeboat launches saved 342 lives across the RNLI fleet.

The Irish fleet is a mixture of inshore and all-weather (offshore) craft. The offshore lifeboats, which range from 17m to 12m in length are either moored afloat, launched down a slipway or are towed into the sea on a trailer and launched. The inshore boats are either rigid or non-rigid inflatables.

The Irish Coast Guard in the Republic of Ireland or the UK Coastguard in Northern Ireland task lifeboats when an emergency call is received, through any of the recognised systems. These include 999/112 phone calls, Mayday/PanPan calls on VHF, a signal from an emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) or distress signals.

The Irish Coast Guard is the government agency responsible for the response to, and co-ordination of, maritime accidents which require search and rescue operations. To carry out their task the Coast Guard calls on their own resources – Coast Guard units manned by volunteers and contracted helicopters, as well as "declared resources" - RNLI lifeboats and crews. While lifeboats conduct the operation, the coordination is provided by the Coast Guard.

A lifeboat coxswain (pronounced cox'n) is the skipper or master of the lifeboat.

RNLI Lifeboat crews are required to follow a particular development plan that covers a pre-agreed range of skills necessary to complete particular tasks. These skills and tasks form part of the competence-based training that is delivered both locally and at the RNLI's Lifeboat College in Poole, Dorset

 

While the RNLI is dependent on donations and legacies for funding, they also need volunteer crew and fund-raisers.

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