Bembridge RNLI’s All Weather Lifeboat was launched to assist with the tow of a broken down 23m fishing vessel off the coast of the Isle of Wight this afternoon (Sunday).
Solent Coastguard requested the launch – which was subsequently actioned by the Lifeboat Operations Manager – and the lifeboat trundled down the slipway at 14:10.
The 100 ton casualty vessel, which had 3 persons on board and was located north west of the lifeboat station, had broken down earlier in the day and was under tow – albeit very slowly – by the Ventnor fishing boat, Ventura.
The situation began at around 10:30 some 5 miles off St Catherine’s Point.
Earlier attempts to arrange a commercial tow had been unsuccessful.
It didn’t take long for the volunteer lifeboat crew to locate the fishing boat and access the situation, determining the best possible options to take forward.
With a full catch on board ready to be taken to market, it was decided that the casualty vessel would be towed to Portsmouth.
However, after considerable discussions between King’s Harbour Master Portsmouth and HM Coastguard, it was, for reasons unknown, decided to anchor her off Stokes Bay instead.
Once this had been done, the Alfred Albert Williams took 1 of the crew of the casualty fishing boat – who was not feeling very well – into The Camber before returning to Bembridge.
The lifeboat crew were home in time for dinner with the ‘Alfred Albert Williams’ recovered by 17:00.
Please translate paragraph 6.
assess not access is a start
Sounds a bit fishy to me
When members of my kayaking club were stranded on the isle of Muck by foul weather for a week the RNLI came to take the people off but refused to recover the kayaks which were later transported by a commercial vessel at considerable cost. Nice to see this ‘charity’ applies different rules depending on whether you’re mates with the cox. No wonder people are getting pi$$ed off with the political posturing of this financially bloated organisation.
Assisted by a Ventnor boat ?
If that belongs to the family I’m thinking of, they’ll be charging massively for their assistance!!
As a rule they only want to help themselves & revel in others misfortune.
Certainly not the sort to help anyone in trouble generally. Maybe it was the elder at sea that day, which was lucky for the other boat. Will still charge a huge amount for their assistance!!!!