Second rescue for angling boat

Second rescue for angling boat

24 February 2016

THE crew of a boat have been rescued for a second time by the RNLI.

Five days after being rescued by Newcastle lifeboat, the crew of the angling boat were brought to safety by Portaferry lifeboat on Thursday evening.

The first rescue occurred as the 36 foot boat, with four men on board, was travelling from Howth to Carrickfergus. The boat suffered engine failure eight miles south-east of St John’s Point prompting the Coastguard to despatch Newcastle’s all weather lifeboat which towed the craft into Ardglass marina.

On Thursday a two-man crew left Ardglass in the angling boat to try to complete the journey to Carrickfergus but at the mouth of Strangford Lough again suffered engine failure and contacted the Coastguard.

Portaferry lifeboat was tasked by Belfast Coastguard and the crew located the vessel in South Bay, north east of Ballyquinten Point.

The RNLI crew arrived on scene at 7.10pm and towed the boat back to Strangford, a journey which lasted an hour and 20 minutes.

Portaferry and Bangor Coastguard teams were also involved in the operation.

Brian Bailie, Lifeboat Operations Manager for the Portaferry RNLI Station said it was a great outcome and testament to the hard work and training the RNLI volunteers put in to answer calls for help at sea. 

“The two men on board the casualty boat took the right decision to call for assistance before their situation could become potentially more serious,” he said.