Fenit RNLI’s new Shannon class lifeboat Roy Barker VII responded to its first call-out on Thursday morning, the 17th of September, following a report of a person possibly in difficulty west of Fenit Pier. The Irish Coast Guard requested the volunteer crew to launch at 10.21 am after a member of the public reported what they believed was a surfer in difficulty.
Both the new Shannon class all-weather lifeboat and the station’s D class inshore lifeboat were launched in fresh sea conditions, with Force 4-5 south-westerly winds and a two-metre swell.
The Shannon launched under Coxswain John J Moriarty with four crew members aboard, while the D-class was helmed by Terry Sheehy with two crew members.
Once at sea, the crews located a windsurfer who confirmed they did not need assistance. Both lifeboats were subsequently stood down, with the incident recorded as a false alarm with good intent.
Fenit RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager Fergus Kelliher commended the member of the public for raising the alarm.
“While this was a false alarm with good intent this morning, we would like to take the opportunity to commend the member of the public who raised the alarm when they had a genuine concern for somebody,” he said.
“That is always the right thing to do if you think you see someone in difficulty in the water.”
Milestone for Roy Barker VII
The call-out marked an early milestone for Fenit’s new Shannon class lifeboat, Roy Barker VII, which was declared a search and rescue asset by the Irish Coast Guard at 2 pm on Tuesday the 15th of September.
“The first call out for the new lifeboat comes as we now complete the transition from a Trent to a Shannon class lifeboat,” Kelliher said.
“This has involved intensive training and assessments for our volunteers in recent months and, with that, a huge amount of time and selfless dedication from all involved, including our volunteers’ families.”
He thanked and congratulated the station team on completing the transition to the new lifeboat.
