Yarmouth RNLI Lifeboat responded to a Mayday call reporting that a motorboat was on fire near Hurst Spit on Monday night.
Solent Coastguard requested the launch of the lifeboat at 20:57 following reports that that there was a fire in the engine compartment of the vessel, which was located between Hurst Castle and Fort Albert.
The volunteer lifeboat crew made good speed from their berth in Yarmouth Harbour to the casualty vessel. Once on scene, it was established the fire had already been extinguished and the owner of the casualty vessel had come alongside in a RIB and helped the crew of 6 evacuate from the motorboat.
The owner then boarded the motorboat, and a decision was made that a Yarmouth RNLI crew member would join them to assess the situation.
With agreement from all that the fire has been fully extinguished, and with the starboard engine still fully functioning, Yarmouth RNLI escorted the motorboat back into Yarmouth where they were then placed and secured to an outer mooring.
The lifeboat then brought the owner ashore to make arrangements for the motorboat to be assessed the next morning.
Richard Pimm, Yarmouth RNLI’s full-time mechanic, has said:
‘The crew onboard had all necessary safety means and equipment for extinguishing the fire, which helped prevent the spread. When out at sea on vessels that are powered by engines, it is always worth having these items readily available as well as life jackets and forms of communication, which they also had, so that a call for help can be made’
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The lifeboat returned to station and was ready for service at 21:38.
