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Latest launch information:
20th December 2020Summary
A tanker heading west at the northern edge of the shipping lanes, around 24nm south of Swanage, alerted the UK Coastguard to what appeared to be a working boat drifting free with no one in control. Concerned that there may be lives in danger, the UK Coastguard requested the launch of the Swanage Shannon class lifeboat and also tasked Coastguard Rescue Helicopter ‘R-175’ to the scene.
In moderate to rough seas the lifeboat made good speed towards the reported position. Helicopter ‘R-175’ arrived a little before the lifeboat and reported what looked like broken mooring lines and a locked wheelhouse. ‘R-175’ also reported that it was too risky to lower a person onto the boat for further investigation.
The lifeboat crew, now on scene too, considered the possibility of towing the vessel but dismissed it as too dangerous given that there was no danger to life. Thought was also given to how the drifting boat could be illuminated or marked as a navigation hazard, but benefits did not out-weigh risks and the UK Coastguard were happy to release the helicopter and lifeboat after an updated position and drift vector was obtained. The passage back to Swanage was made in about an hour and the boat re-housed and re-fuelled at 1355
Weather
- Visibility:Good
- Wind:SW-4
- Weather:Fine
- Sea state:Moderate
Details
- Boat(s):Shannon
- Launch time:12:04
- Recovery time:13:55
- Casualty:Commercial Vessel
- Location:24nm SSE Swanage
Crew
-
ALB Crew:
(Coxn) Tom Greasty
Steve Williams
John Deas
Matthew Steeden
Phil Palmer
Andy Redout
ALB Shore Crew:
(Head Launcher)
Luke Kill
(Winch) Ben Jarvis
Gary Buglass
Felix Williams
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- Photos:View Photos
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Swanage Lifeboat Station is one of over 230 RNLI lifeboat stations around the coast of the UK and the Republic of Ireland. The RNLI is a charity and relies on voluntary contributions from the public to keep its lifeboats at sea. At Swanage we have two lifeboats, an All Weather ‘Shannon’ class lifeboat and a ‘D-Class’ inshore lifeboat. We have a volunteer crew comprising 30 sea going crew and four shore crew who launch and recover the boats.
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