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Larne Lifeboat Shouts 2005

Small fishing vessel engine failure  16/12/05   1228UTC

ILB Hannahbella Ferguson tasked to a 6m Islander fishing vessel reported with engine failure near Swan Island, Larne Lough.

The casualty was located and taken in tow to her own mooring in Larne Lough.  When safely moored the one person on board was landed ashore to the care of Larne Coast Guard

The ILB was released, returned to station and was refuelled, “Ready for Service” at 1320UTC

Right: ILB Hannahbella Ferguson.

Twin Screw Motor Cruiser “Flash Bee”      23/10/05 1619BST

The ALB Dr John McSparran was tasked to investigate a report of a 49’ Twin Screw Diesel Motor Cruiser reported sunk in the vicinity of Black Head.  The one person on board was reported as safely ashore, but Belfast MRSC were concerned that the vessel, if not completely sunk, would be a hazard to shipping.

The ALB proceeded and located the casualty in a semi-submerged state close to the search datum.  The coxswain deemed it unsafe to take to casualty in tow and, having assessed the situation, put a crew member on board to establish the state of the vessel.  A substantial quantity of water was reported in the forward section of the vessel and up to the level of the engine mounts in the engine compartment.

A second crew member and salvage pump were transferred to the casualty and pumping commenced.  Once the water was substantially cleared a tow line was rigged and at the request of Belfast MRSC the casualty was towed to Bangor and handed over to the care of Bangor Coast Guard.

The ALB was then released, returned to station and was refuelled “Ready for Service” at 2130BST

Library shot of similar 49' Twin Screw Diesel Motor Cruiser to the one salvaged by Larne's ALB Dr John McSparran on 23/10/05

Jetski in trouble 07/09/05          2015BST

The ALB Dr John McSparran launched to rescue 2 persons on board a jetski reported by PSNI as being in difficulty off Ballygalley.  With daylight rapidly fading immediate assistance was required.

Using local and keen eyesight, the casualty was located just south of Ballygalley Head, having been swept round the headland by the combination of the offshore wind and the flooding tide.

The two persons were recovered from the jetski and were checked over.  Meanwhile the ILB Hannahbella Ferguson arrived on scene to assist.  With no medical attention being required the two casualties were transferred to the ILB and landed ashore at Ballygalley to the care of Larne Coast Guard while the ALB returned to re-locate the jetski which was a hazard to small craft navigation.

The jetski was then taken in tow by the ILB and landed at Ballygalley to the care of Larne Coast Guard.

Both lifeboats were then released and returned to station.  Both ALB and ILB were refuelled and ready for service at 2127BST and 2135BST respectively.

The ILB Hannahbella Ferguson was tasked to investigate reports of a red flare in the vicinity of the causeway at the southern end of Larne Lough.

On arrival on scene a systematic search of the area was commenced with Portmuck and Larne CG units carrying out shore searches.

As Belfast MRSC could not be certain that the flare had originated inside the Lough, the ALB Dr John McSparran and Bangor ILB Youth of Ulster were also tasked to search the east coast of Islandmagee working from the north and the south respectively.

With more detailed information from the informants it was clear that the flare had been fired from inland and all units were stood down once a thorough sweep of the areas had been carried out. The incident was recorded as a malicious hoax.

The ILB and the ALB returned to station and were refuelled, ready for service at 22:12BST and 22:29BST respectively.

Bangor lifeboat Youth of Ulster assisted Larne lifeboats Dr John McSparran and Hannahbella Ferguson investigate a red flare seen in Islandmagee.  The sighting was eventually declared a hoax.  Youth of Ulster is seen here on exercise at Bangor on 28/4/04. 
Photo: Aubrey Dale click to enlarge)

Cabin Cruiser Loses Rudder 13/8/05   1805BST

First Shout for D646 Hannahbella Ferguson

Both lifeboats were tasked to attend to reports of two craft in trouble near Portmuck.  The first report was of a cabin cruiser with two persons on board which had left Portmuck and had not been seen for some time.  The second report was of a red dinghy drifting in the vicinity of Muck Island with apparently no persons on board.

On arrival on scene, Portmuck CG IRT had both casualties in view and requested the ILB to investigate the dinghy inside Muck Island.  Communications were established with the cabin cruiser which had suffered the loss of its rudder.  Further questioning established that the red dinghy had been lost by the cabin cruiser and it was confirmed that there were no persons on board the dinghy.

While the ALB established a tow with the cabin cruiser, the ILB was despatched to recover the drifting dinghy.  Both craft were then taken in tow to Ballylumford Harbour.  After berthing the dinghy, the cabin cruiser was handed over to the ILB to berth in the harbour.  With both casualties handed over to the care of Portmuck CG IRT, both boats were released, returned to station and were refuelled, ready for service at 19:30BST

New inshore lifeboat Hannahbella Ferguson had her first shout on 13/8/05 when she assisted ALB Dr John McSparran to tow in a cabin cruiser which had lost its rudder.  Hannahbella Ferguson is seen here on 5/8/05 in her launching trailer outside Larne lifeboat station.

ALB “Dr John McSparran” tasked to go to assistance of an 8m angling boat with 3 persons on board, reported as disabled and drifting in the shipping lanes at Larne Harbour.

Crew assembled and were about to leave the station when stood down by Belfast MRSC who had received further information that the casualty had been taken in tow by a local craft and was no longer in danger.

Pictured right: Dr John McSparran at the lifeboat berth in Larne Harbour on 10/6/05

D-499 “Jean and Paul” tasked to go to the assistance of a jetski reported to be in difficulty at Mill Bay, Larne Lough.

On arrival on scene the driver was found to be safe, but was unable to re-start the jetski which was drifting northwards in the ebb tide.

The casualty was taken in tow to Magheramourne and handed over to the care of Portmuck CG IRT.

The ILB was released, returned to station and was refuelled, ready for service, at 16:24BST

Jean and Paul being recovered at Larne Harbour after attending a jetski in distress at Mill Bay on 8/7/05.  Click to enlarge

D-499 “Jean and Paul” was preparing to go out on an inspection exercise when tasked to attend to 2 teenagers reported as being blown out to sea on two airbeds in Drain’s Bay.

On arrival on scene the casualties had succeeded in reaching the shore where they were received by Larne CG IRT.  The ILB was requested to remain on scene until it was verified that there were no other persons involved.

The ILB was released, returned to station and was refuelled, ready for service, at 19:23BST

The crew of Jean and Paul were on hand to assist two teenagers blown out to sea on airbeds at Drain's Bay on 22/6/05.  She is pictured here on exercise on 3/7/05.  Click to enlarge.

ILB D-499 “Jean and Paul” launched to assist 2 canoeists reported to be in difficulty at the Chaine Tower.

On arrival on scene it was established that the canoeists, both teenagers, had managed to get back ashore with the assistance of two members of the public.

The ILB was released, returned to station and was refuelled, ready for service, at 16:05BST

Jean and Paul, pictured on exercise on 5/7/05, assisted canoeists in trouble on 22/6/05 at Chaine Tower.  Click to enlarge

Both lifeboats were tasked to search for a person reported as having entered the water in the vicinity of Chaine Park.

A major co-ordinated search involving CG shore teams from Larne and Portmuck,  both lifeboats and a Sea King helicopter from HMS Gannet, Prestwick carried out a search from Chaine Memorial Tower northwards to the Black Arch.

Further information to Belfast MRSC from the PSNI indicated that the original information was a malicious hoax and the search and rescue operations were terminated just after 03:00BST.

Both lifeboats were released, returned to station and were refuelled ready for service at 03:20BST.

Both lifeboats were tasked to attend to a 10m motor cruiser, with 1 person on board, reported aground at the entrance of Larne Lough near the commercial quays.

On arrival on scene the ILB located the casualty inside the north end of the Continental Quay and inaccessible to the ALB.  An ILB crew member was put on board the casualty and once satisfied that the person on board was safe and that the casualty was not taking water, a towing bridle was rigged in preparation for the ALB tow line.  The ILB then took the towline from the ALB and secured it to the bridle.

The casualty was re-floated and, with the ILB acting as “stern tug”, was guided out through concrete and other obstructions until in clear water.  The casualty was then towed to a mooring at East Antrim Boat Club and the owner landed safely ashore to the care of Larne CG IRT.

Both boats were refuelled, ready for service, just after 01:00BST 06/06/05.

L-R: Jean and Paul, cruiser under tow and Dr John McSparran towing the cruiser to safety.  Click both to enlarge

ALB “Dr John McSparran” had just shut down after exercise when tasked to go to the assistance of a 5.5m angling boat with 4 persons on board reported to be broken down about 0.5M south of the Maidens rocks.

On arrival on scene the ALB located the casualty 2M NW of the Maidens, some 3 miles from the reported position.  A crew member was put on board the casualty to assess the situation.  When it was established that the engine had overheated and could not be re-started, a bridle was rigged to receive the ALB towline.  The casualty was then taken in tow to Larne Lough where, due to tidal constraints, the ILB was tasked to berth the casualty in Ballylumford Harbour.

Both boats were then released, returned to station and were refuelled, ready for service, by 15:00BST

Dr John McSparran pictured here on exercise, towed in an angling boat broken down off the Maidens.  Click to enlarge.

Jean and Paul also provided assistance to tow the angling boat into Ballylumford Dock

Both lifeboats were tasked to attend to a casualty reported to have fallen over the cliffs about 1 mile north of the Gobbins, Islandmagee.

When the ILB arrived on scene the Portmuck CG cliff team were already in attendance together with PSNI officers.  Two crew members were landed with first aid equipment and kept the casualty under observation pending the arrival of a paramedic.  The ALB was requested to stand by to provide overall safety cover and to receive the casualty if it was decided to evacuate by sea.

After examination by a paramedic the cliff team leader decided to evacuate by stretcher to the clifftop to the waiting ambulance.

The ALB remained on scene until the winching operations were completed and all personnel were safely recovered.  Both boats were released, returned to station and were refuelled, ready for service, just before 18:00BST

Library pictures of Jean and Paul exercising with Portmuck CG Cliff team at the Gobbins.  (These are pictures from a drill and are not the actual event.)

D-class “Jean and Paul” tasked in response to report of yacht in difficulty at the commercial quays in Larne Harbour.  On receipt of further information that there were 4 persons and a punt involved, the ALB “Dr John McSparran” was also tasked.

In blustery conditions with the wind S5 gusting to near gale force 7 in rain squalls, the casualty was located against the Curran Quay.

The ILB established a tow to the casualty while the ALB attended to the punt with 4 persons on board who were attempting to reach the casualty.  When the casualty had been towed clear of the quay an ALB crew member and 2 persons from the punt were transferred on board and it was towed to a mooring at East Antrim Boat Club.

Once all 4 persons and the punt were safely ashore both boats were released, returned to station and were refuelled, ready for service, at 22:53BST

Lifeboat Tasked to 5m Dory 18/5/05

Larne's all-weather lifeboat Dr John McSparran was tasked at 19:40 BST on Wednesday 18/05/05 to investigate reports of a small craft being blown towards the commercial quays at Larne Harbour by near gale force southerly winds.

The casualty - a 5m dory - was located under the Olderfleet Quay just south of the bows of the RORO ferry European Causeway. The casualty was taken in tow clear of the quays and beached at East Antrim Boat Club above the high water line.

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Larne Lifeboat was launched just after 4pm on Saturday 14/05/05 to rescue a party of 11 divers at the Allen Rock near the Maidens Lighthouse when their support vessel encountered mechanical problems. Using his auxiliary engine the professional dive master succeeded in recovering the divers still in the water, thus averting the situation developing into a major incident. The divers were then transferred to the “Dr John McSparran” and the support vessel was taken in tow to the safety of Ballylumford Harbour. Apart from one case of mild hypothermia the divers were none the worse for their experience.

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Larne All-Weather Lifeboat Dr John McSparran was launched late on Sunday night 08/09/05 to the 24m tug “NOMAD” (ex Duke of Normandy) on passage from Jersey to Killybegs. The tug with 4 crew members had encountered strong north-westerly winds while heading north up the Irish Sea and the North Channel. The rough seas caused flooding in the forward part of the vessel which was endangering the vessel. On arrival at the casualty crew members and a salvage pump were transferred to the stricken vessel. The salvage pump got the situation under control and after an hours pumping the water was cleared. The tug berthed at the Phoenix Quay at Larne Harbour for inspection and was able to resume her passage the following day.

   
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Larne All-Weather Lifeboat Dr John McSparran was launched on 30/04/05 to assist a 34’ sailing boat “SA JOUET” on passage from the Clyde to Cork.  The yacht, with 6 persons on board, had suffered mechanical failure 7 miles east of the E Maidens lighthouse.  The disabled vessel was towed to Larne Harbour and safely berthed at the Castle Quay.  After engine repairs she resumed her journey to Cork the following day.

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