Amble Lifeboat Shouts

Date: Saturday 3rd July 2010

Wind: W 2-3
Visibility: Good
Sea state: Slight
Time of launch: 1240hrs
Time of return: 1345hrs

Boats launched: ILB

Reason: The volunteer crew members were paged at 1237hrs and launched the fast-response ILB to the reported position of a person on a body board in the water just east of Warkworth Golf club, unable to make it back to the shore. Upon arrival at the scene, the ILB crew rescued the person from the water and after assessment for injury, the ILB took the casualty to the safety of the shore, where he was handed over to awaiting Paramedics where he was treat for the effects of being in cold water. The ILB then proceeded back to station and was then re-fuelled and made ready for service again by the crew

Date: Thursday 1st July 2010

Wind: SE 2-3
Visibility: Good
Sea state: 1m swell
Time of launch: 1040hrs
Time of return: 1210hrs

Boats launched: ILB

Reason: The volunteer crew members were paged at 10.40 and launched the fast-response ILB to the reported position of a person in the water just east of Alnmouth Golf club. Upon arrival at the scene, the ILB crew rescued the person from the capsized dinghy which was a 10ft ‘Laser’ type piloted by a local man from Alnham. After assessment for injury, the ILB then took both the skipper and the vessel back to the safety of the shore. The casualty was then handed over to Boulmer Coastguard who carried out further assessment and discussions with the skipper.

Date: Saturday 26th June 2010

Wind: SE 2
Visibility: Good
Sea state: 1m swell
Time of launch: 1630hrs
Time of return: 1800hrs

Boats launched: ILB

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Reason: The volunteer crew members of Amble RNLI Station were paged at 16.34 on Saturday and the request from HM Coastguard was to initially launch both boats. However, on receiving further information about the casualty, it was decided that rather than deploy both boats at this busy time, the ILB was more than capable of towing a small vessel such as a RIB back to safety. Therefore, the All-weather Lifeboat (ALB) ‘The Four Boys’ and her crew remained on standby should their services be needed to assist the ILB on this particular rescue.

The ILB quickly located the casualty near Bondicarr rocks just south of Amble, and discovered she was a 5.5 metre long RIB ‘Sweet Pea’ with two persons on board who were cold and wet upon arrival, but otherwise safe and well. Their main engine had failed and their small backup engine was incapable of overcoming the sea conditions and the strength of the local current.

Once it became apparent that the crew of Sweet Pea were not in immediate danger and that the mechanical failure could not be remedied at the scene, the ILB Helmsman decided that the best course of action would be to tow Sweet Pea back to the safety of Amble Marina.
The ILB then proceeded to tow Sweet Pea back to the safety of Amble slipway and was then re-fuelled and made ready for service again by the crew.

Date: Tuesday 14th June 2010

Wind: SE 2
Visibility: Good
Sea state: 3-4m swell
Time of launch: 1200hrs
Time of return: 1500hrs

Boats launched: ALB + ILB

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Reason: Both lifeboats were launched after the fishing vessel ” HARVEST DAWN ” grounded at the harbour entrance. The ILB tried to pull the vessels head to sea, but with the breaking swell the ILB could not turn the vessel. The skipper of the vessel had already called on another fishing vessel the ” NATALIE KRISTEN 2 ” to try and pull him off before the lifeboats were launched, so as the ALB arrived on scene the casualty had been pulled clear of the sand bank by the other fishing vessel. Both Lifeboats stood by until there was enough water for the casualty to enter safely into the harbour, while standing by, two yachts had approached the harbour and so they too were escorted into the safety of the harbour when their was enough water. Both boats then returned to station, were refuelled and made ready for service.

Date: Wednesday 26th May 2010

Wind: E 2-3
Visibility: Good
Sea state: 1.5/2m swell
Time of launch: 2200hrs
Time of return: 0000hrs

Boats launched: ALB + ILB

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Reason: Both boats were called to the 12 metre sailing yacht ” SEA JAY ” with four persons on board which had run aground 100 yards South of Amble Harbour. She was laying on her side taking a heavy buffeting in the 2 metre swell which was driving the vessel further onto the rocks.
The ILB took the tow rope from the ALB to the casualty, and with this made fast the ALB took the strain and managed to turn the vessel head to sea this seemed to steady the casualty but she was still hard aground. The ILB then took two persons off and transferred them to the ALB where they were found to be cold and slightly shocked and were given warm drinks and blankets. The ILB then went back alongside the vessel and put a crewmember onboard to assist with the recovery.
As the tide flowed and with the tension still on the tow rope, and after 1.5 hrs the ALB was able to free the casualty of the rocks and make headway into deeper water where the vessel was tied alongside as they had no steerage, with this done all three vessels entered Amble Harbour were the SEA JAY was moored alongside the quay wall for the night until she could be lifted out so they could inspect for damage underneath.

Date: Sunday 23rd May 2010

Wind: NE 1-2
Visibility: Good
Sea state: Calm
Time of launch: 1725hrs / 2000hrs
Time of return: 1830hrs / 2100hrs

Boats launched: ALB + ILB

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Reason: Humber Coastguard requested the immediate launch of Amble Lifeboat and Amble ILB after a yacht reported that a motor cruiser had run aground on the rocks off Hauxley point. With no contact with the casualty vessel and not knowing if it was taking on water, the lifeboats were launched immediately and made their way to the scene. Upon arrival, the vessel, with 5 persons on board was checked for damage by the ILB crew but no damage was found, however it was apparent the vessel would not be re-floated until the next high tide. As such, with the calm conditions, the ILB crew assisted in setting the vessels anchor, and transferred two females from the vessel onto Amble Lifeboat so they could be taken back to Amble, leaving three crew on board the casualty vessel The lifeboats then returned to station where they would wait until the tide rose.
At 2000hrs the lifeboats re-launched and assisted the casualty vessel out of the danger area, before escorting it back into Amble Marina, where upon the boats returned to station and were made ready for service.

Date: Tuesday 18th May 2010

Wind: WSW 2-3
Visibility: Good
Sea state: Calm (up river)
Time of launch: 1825hrs
Time of return: 1900hrs

Boats launched: ILB

Reason: Humber Coastguard requested the launch of Amble ILB after the 19ft pleasure vessel “OSPREY” reported mechanical failure approx 500mts up river from Amble Lifeboat Station, with 1 person on board. The ILB was launched and was quickly alongside the casualty vessel, where she was taken undertow into Amble Marina where the ILB crew helped moor her alongside a pontoon. The ILB then returned to station where she was made ready for service.

Date: Friday 30th April 2010

Wind: WSW 2-3
Visibility: Good
Sea state: Slight
Time of launch: 2215hrs
Time of return: 2315hrs

Boats launched: ALB + ILB

Reason: Humber Coastguard requested the launch of Amble Lifeboat and Amble ILB after receiving a 999 call from a member of public stating they had seen what they thought to be a red flare, somewhere in the area between Amble and Coquet Island. With Amble ILB searching the shoreline of Coquet Island with the help of the RSPB wardens, and Amble Lifeboat conducting a sweep of the area with Amble Coastguard team on the shore to assist the area was searched very quickly with nothing found. As the search was underway a chinese lantern was witnessed to be released somewhere in the Amble area which floated straight out to sea right over the search area. The first informant confirmed the chinese lantern was exactly what they had seen previously and so, with that information and nothing found in the area, all units were stood down and returned to station. Call was put down as a false alarm with good intent.