Amble Lifeboat Shouts

Date: Wednesday 31st December 2008

Wind: N 1
Visibility: Moderate
Sea state: Smooth
Time of launch: 1120hrs
Time of return: 1200hrs

Boats launched: ALB

Reason: Humber Coastguard requested the launch of Amble Lifeboat, after the local fishing vessel ‘MIZPAH’ reported having a fouled propeller, 1/2 mile south of Amble. Once launched, Amble Lifeboat was quickly on scene, and, after the skipper of the fishing vessel had cut the rope attaching the boat to the sea bed, a tow was established. The ‘MIZPAH’ was towed back to Amble and made secure on the fish quay before Amble Lifeboat returned to station and was mae ready for service once more.

Date: Wednesday 17th December 2008

Wind: NW 3
Visibility: Good
Sea state: Moderate
Time of launch: 0845hrs
Time of return: 0930hrs

Boats launched: ALB

Reason: Humber Coastguard requested the launch of Amble Lifeboat, to take over the tow, from Seahouses Lifeboat, of an Amble fishing vessel that had suffered mechanical problems in between Amble and Seahouses. Once launched, Amble Lifeboat was quickly on scene and took over the tow of the 10m fishing vessel ‘PROVIDER’. The vessel was towed back to Amble and made secure on the quay before Amble Lifeboat returned to station and was made ready for service.

Date: Sunday 23rd November 2008

Wind: WNW 3-4
Visibility: Good
Sea state: Moderate
Time of launch: 1345hrs
Time of return: 1410hrshrs

Boats launched: ALB + ILB

Reason: Humber Coastguard requested the immediate launch of Amble Lifeboat and Amble ILB after receiving reports of three people in difficulties, in the sea at Alnmouth. Both boats were launched very quickly and made best speed to Alnmouth, however, just before they arrived on scene it was established that the people had managed to get to the shore. Amble Coastguard, who were already on their way to Alnmouth, continued to check the casualties needed no medical assistance. With no persons left in difficulty, both Lifeboats were stood down and returned to station where they were made ready for service once again.

Date: Wednesday 5th November 2008

Wind: ENE 2-3
Visibility: Moderate
Sea state: Moderate
Time of launch: 1355hrs
Time of return: 1530hrs

Boats launched: ALB

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Reason: Humber Coastguard requested the launch of Amble Lifeboat after the motor launch ‘7 SISTERS’, en-route from Humber to Arbroath, reported she had suffered mechanical failure 5 miles North East of Amble. Once on scene, Amble ALB rigged a tow and towed the vessel to Amble. Once it was made secure alongside in the marina, Amble ALB returned to station and made ready for service.

Date: Sunday 26th October

Wind: W 6-7 (gusting 8 )
Visibility: Good
Sea state: Moderate
Time of launch: 1040hrs (diverted off Exercise)
Time of return: 1120hrs

Boats launched: ALB + ILB

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Reason: After receiving several calls from concerned members of the public, regarding some vessels from the local sailing club that appeared to be struggling in the strong winds, Humber Coastguard requested that Amble ILB divert from its exercise and go and investigate and assist if needed. It turned out that the quickly deteriorating weather conditions had caught some members of the sailing club out and their safety boat was struggling to manage with all the small sailing yachts. Amble ILB helped the safety boat get the sailing yachts back to harbour, then with only one catamaran left at sea, set up a tow and headed for Amble. The strong wind over the sea made the tow difficult so the ILB requested the ALB to escort them back to the harbour, creating a lee and giving them some shelter. Once back in the harbour and all sailing yachts safely back to the yacht club, the lifeboats returned to station and were made ready for service.

Date: Monday 13th October 2008

Wind: ENE 2-3
Visibility: Good
Sea state: Moderate
Time of launch: 0530hrs
Time of return: 0730hrs

Boats launched: ALB

Reason: Humber Coastguard requested the immediate launch of Amble Lifeboat after the fishing vessel ‘PROVIDER’ reported she was taking on water in the Craster area. Craster Lifeboat was also launched to stand by the vessel until Amble Lifeboat arrived, in case the crew of the fising vessel needed evacuating. Once Amble Lifeboat was on scene, two crew members were put on board with the salvage pump to help stem the ingress of water. With the pump running, a tow was passed to the fishing vessel and Amble Lifeboat commenced the tow back to Amble as Craster Lifeboat returned to station. Once back in Amble harbour, the ‘PROVIDER’ was secured alongside the quay, and with the water ingress stopped, Amble Lifeboat returned to station and was made ready for service once more.

Date: Saturday 6th September 2008

Wind: ENE 2-3
Visibility: Good
Sea state: Rough
Time of launch: 1830hrs
Time of return: 0200hrs (Sunday)

Boats launched: X-Boat

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Reason: The Environment Agency, working with Northumbria Fire Brigade, requested assistance from the RNLI to assist with mass evacuations in the Morpeth area that had been hit badly by floods. Three crew members, along with the Deputy Divisional Engineer (North) left Amble with the stations’ X-Boat, to meet up in Morpeth with crews from Blyth, Newbiggin and Redcar. Blyth ILB as well as two RNLI Arancias and a Training D-Class had also been transported to Morpeth.
Under direction from the Training Divisional Inspector (North), who was in the command centre with the Fire Brigade, RNLI teams were tasked to assist with evacuating residents, as well as ferrying service engineers (gas and electric) to affected areas.
With all homes affected having been evacuated and the flood waters receeding, the RNLI crews were released to return home at 0200hrs, but were told to expect a call to return if conditions worsened again. Amble crew returned back to station at 0245hrs.

Date: Saturday 6th September 2008

Wind: ENE 4-5
Visibility: Good
Sea state: Rough
Time of launch: 1830hrs
Time of return: 2000hrs

Boats launched: ILB

Reason: Humber Coastguard requested the launch of Amble ILB after receiving requests for assistance to evacuate residents, in the Warkworth area, whose homes had been affected by the flood water. Amble ILB was able to get up river, but once on scene, was unable to offer much assistance due to the fast flowing river, and the fact most homes had only a little amount of water in and so land emergency services were able to evacuate all residents safely. With increasing worries about safety in the swollen river, it was decided that the ILB would return to station by road where it was cleaned, re-fuelled and made ready for service once more.

Date: Saturday 6th September 2008

Wind: ENE 4-5
Visibility: Poor due to heavy rain
Sea state: Rough
Time of launch: 1430hrs
Time of return: 1600hrs

Boats launched: ILB (ALB on stand-by at station)

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Reason: Humber Coastguard requested the immediate launch of Amble ILB after receiving reports that a boat owner was trying to reach his vessel, in the middle of the fast flowing river, up stream from the boathouse, that was in flood due to the heavy rain from the previous 48hrs. With all the debris in the river and the rate of flow of the flood water, Amble ALB was put on stand-by at the station in case anything was to happpen to the ILB or any of her crew. The ILB was quickly on scene and established the man had managed to get to his vessel but, after making sure it was secure, was unable to reach the shore again. As the ILB crew were talking to the gentleman, a yacht and a mooring barge broke loose from their moorings in the river and became entangled in those of another yacht. With the man safely on his coble, the ILB crew tried their best to secure lines to the vessels that had broken loose to stop them causing any further damage. With this done, the man was taken back to the Lifeboat Station where the ILB was recovered and made ready for service once more.

Date: Saturday 6th September 2008

Wind: ENE 4-5
Visibility: Poor due to heavy rain
Sea state: Rough
Time of launch: 0530hrs
Time of return: 0545hrs

Boats launched: Launch Cancelled

Reason: Humber Coastguard became increasingly concerened after receiveing several calls regarding a caravan site 30 miles inland from Amble which was suffering extreme flooding. They requested that Amble provide some crew and the ILB to travel by road and assist with any evacuations at the site. However as the crew assembled and with other units already on scene, it was decided to cancel the request, as, with deteriorating weather conditions at Amble, it became apparent the Lifeboats may be needed on station.