Pagers sounded for the crews of both Bangor and Donaghadee RNLI at 8.55am on Monday morning (5 May) following a request from HM Coastguard to assist the crew of a 32ft vessel reported to be taking on water in the vicinity of Whitehead on Belfast Lough.
Bangor RNLI's inshore lifeboat Ruby Robinson was launched at 9.06am and made best speed to the scene arriving shortly afterwards.
Meanwhile, the Stena Line vessel Stena Superfast VII had stopped its commercial operation in readiness to assist and was already on scene along with Donaghadee RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat.
However, it emerged that the crew of the casualty vessel had managed to make their way to Whitehead unaided and with no danger to life or the environment, the lifeboats were stood down.
Bangor RNLI launch authority Tommy Burns said: “Today's call had a successful outcome. The boat owner did absolutely the right thing by calling for assistance at the earliest opportunity.
“We would also like to thank the crew of Stena Superfast VII and our colleagues at Donaghadee and in the coastguard as well as those on our own lifeboat and our shore crew, for their joint efforts today.”
