RNLI assists boat in shallow waters
Julie Kenwell • Published 21 Aug 2012 09:45
ENNISKILLEN RNLI had to come to the assistance of a boat that had run aground on route from Lusty Beg to Clareview private marina on Saturday.
The team launched at the request of Belfast Coastguard from their base at Lough Erne Yacht Club at 11.37pm.
Volunteer lifeboat crew on Joseph and Mary Hiley proceeded to the vessels last known position in the area of 62E (approaching Kesh bay).
On route, Belfast Coastguard advised the crew that the casualty vessel had turned on all of their navigation lights to assist the search in the dark.
Weather conditions at the time were described as light airs, smooth sea state with no swell, and good visibility.
Once the lifeboat reached marker 61N (Gubbaroe Point) the crew began a search towards the Kesh bay area. Not long into the search the 6 metre Bayliner was spotted and located at 62M (Gravel Ridge), 2.5 miles from Lusty Beg and 2 miles from Clareview Marina.
The casualty vessel was in very shallow and rocky waters which would have holed the vessel if it had been left in this position with the waves beginning to beach the shoreline.
The lifeboat could not reach the casualty vessel due to the very shallow water, and it was agreed that the lifeboat would sit off in deeper water and a crew member would swim into the vessel with a towline.
Belfast Coastguard was informed of this. The crew member swam into the vessel and tied the line to a secure cleat. The vessel was checked over for any water ingress which there was none.
"Once we were happy to tow and the master of the vessel gave permission to do so, the lifeboat commenced the tow and towed the boat into deeper water and proceeded onto Clareview marina," said a RNLI spokesperson, " Once they arrived the boat was securely tied up and once again checked over."
Belfast Coastguard released Enniskillen lifeboat and it returned to base and was left ready for service at 1.35am
Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.
