24/06/2004

Lifeboat rescues RIB

For the second time in less than a week the Baltimore Lifeboat was called upon to assist a vessel without power. In the early hours of Tuesday 22nd June the lifeboat rescued a Union Hall based fishing vessel without power and yesterday Thursday June 24th the lifeboat towed a RIB to safety.

The alarm was raised yesterday by a vessel adrift North West of the Stags. Valentia Coastguard alerted the Baltimore Lifeboat at 18:00 and the Hilda Jarrett, was launched within minutes.

Information was received from the Coastguard that a rigid inflatable craft with one occupant was broke down and drifting towards the Stags Rocks. Baltimore Lifeboat established radio contact with a yacht which arrived at the scene and stood by the vessel until the lifeboat arrived. The five and a half metre RIB had managed to anchor in the strong tidal stream between the Stags and Toe Head. Lifeboat crew boarded the stricken vessel, hauled the anchor and took the RIB in tow to Castlehaven. Although weather conditions were fine, the approach of evening would have rendered the survivor in danger of the effects of exposure as he was not prepared for all weather conditions. The RIB and it’s owner were brought safely to a mooring off Castletownsend Pier and the lifeboat was returned to Station. The crew for this rescue were Coxswain - Aidan Bushe, Mechanic - Jerry Smith, Micheal Cottrell, Eoin Ryan, JJ Cotter, Brian McSweeney and Mossie O’Halloran assisting on the slip for launch and recovery were, Gwen Kiely, Rianne Smith, Vincent Roantree and Kate Callanan.

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