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Lough Ree RNLI Respond to Three Callouts in Seven Hours

17th September 2024
Lough Ree RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew
Lough Ree RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew

The Lough Ree RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew was tasked with assisting seven people on board three boats that ran aground on Sunday, September 15.

The return of good weather this past weekend saw additional activity on Lough Ree. It proved to be a busy day for the volunteer crew at Lough Ree RNLI, who responded to three callouts in seven hours.

Just after midday the lifeboat crew of Kieran Sloyan, Paul Kelly, Denis Begley and Patrick Walsh launched the charity’s lifeboat ‘Tara Scougall’ in response to a call for assistance to a cruiser with three people on board. On arrival at the scene at 12.40 pm near the Hexagon Shoal, the crew found a large cruiser stranded on the rocks. Following an inspection of the boat and confirming that all three people on board were safe and well, the cruiser was towed to open water, where it continued under its own power.

Later in the afternoon, the Irish Coast Guard tasked Lough Ree RNLI following reports of cries for help from a boat near Killinure Point. Under volunteer helm Liam Sheringham and with a crew of Billy Henshaw Jnr. and Amy O’Connor, the lifeboat launched just before 4.30 pm. Within a few minutes, the crew reached the vessel on rocks near Green Island with two people on board. Following a search of the area to confirm there were no further casualties the RNLI escorted the boat to the safety of the jetty at Coosan Point.

On Sunday evening volunteers were back at the Hexagon Shoal again responding to a call-out to a 30ft. cruiser with two people on board. The volunteer lifeboat crew of Liam Sheringham, Amy O’Connor and Kieran Sloyan arrived at the scene at 6.45pm. Following inspection, the vessel was towed to Portaneena Marina.

Reflecting on a busy day on the water Lough Ree RNLI Launch Authority Declan Moran said; ‘due to the reduced water levels on Lough Ree and the River Shannon boat users should be mindful that rocks and shoals previously hidden in high water can now pose a significant danger.’ He reminded boat users to’ follow navigation charts and to call the emergency services on 999 if in danger.’

Published in RNLI Lifeboats
Afloat.ie Team

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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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