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Station History

Larne Lifeboat Shouts 2007

LOM observed vessel showing NUC lights in vicinity of Maidens rocks. He telephoned MRCC Belfast who advised him that they had received information from RO/RO EUROPEAN HIGHLANDER via Larne Port Control and were in contact with the 1616GRT coaster EXPLORER with 7POB which had suffered engine failure and was disabled. The casualty proposed anchoring when sufficiently shallow water was reached.

LOM advised MRCC that most of the Maidens rocks were steep-to and that the vessel would be very close to them before he would be able to anchor, MRCC agreed and requested ALB launch to standby casualty until tug assistance arrived.

ALB crew paged and crew assembled. Information from Larne Port Control gave the casualty's current position as E Maidens Lt Ho 013T 1.2M drifting NNE at 0.5kn.

ALB proceeded and located the casualty 4ca SW of W Maiden Lt House

The casualty succeeded in anchoring just inside the 40m depth contour 3ca from W Maiden Lt Ho

ALB stood by casualty until arrival of tug NORTON CROSS on scene at 01:15BST 22/09/07

When the NORTON CROSS had tow rigged and safe sea room established, the ALB was released and RTS

RFS 02:11BST 22/09/07

Casualty was towed by NORTON CROSS to anchorage at Bangor Bay Belfast Lough.

Explorer pictured at Belfast for repairs on 22/9/07 after being assisted by Dr John McSparran the previous evening when she broke down off Larne.  Photo: Alan Geddes

ALB Launch request received from Belfast MRCC who had received a 999 call from 11m yacht "CREDEAU" with 1POB giving his position as approximately 10M from Belfast Lough and requesting assistance. With mobile communication lost, no further information was available.

The Coastguard's estimated position of casualty was approximately 10M due E of Larne.

ALB proceeded. Further information from MV FRI FISHER advised Belfast MRCC that they had the casualty both visual and on radar in position 54 52.5N 005 24.3W on a course of 155T making 4kn.

ALB located casualty and a crew member was put on board to assess the situation.

The single-handed sailor had been on passage from Gareloch in the River Clyde to Carrickfergus for some 18 hours and had encountered fresh head winds With the forecast for further deterioration in the weather, the fatigued person wisely sought assistance.

The Coxswain decided to take the casualty in tow to Carrickfergus Marina and second crew member was transferred to the casualty to assist.

The tow was rigged and the casualty taken to Carrickfergus Marina and berthed safely there.

ALB released and RTS.

RFS 18:55BST

Larne's ALB Dr John McSparran towing yacht Credeau to Carrickfergus Marina on 20/9/07

16/09/07      ALB 01:09BST     12m ex-MFV taking water

ALB launch requested by Belfast MRCC who had received a very weak Ch16 transmission and mobile phone call from de-commissioned 40ft MFV "AUDACIOUS" with 2 POB saying they were about 2M NNE of Black Head and taking on water.  Bangor LB also tasked.

 ALB crew assembled and proceeded.

With Bangor LB working towards location from S and Larne LB from N, there was no sign of casualty in vicinity of location given.

Further information to MRCC from Larne Port Control indicated that a target likely to be the casualty was in position 54 53.16N 005 37.29W.

MRCC requested ALB to proceed to this position.

Casualty located and a crew member was put on board the casualty to assess situation.

Coxswain requested Bangor LB to transfer salvage pump with a second crew member to the casualty.   Bangor LB also put one crew on board casualty.

While ALB crew members attended to pumping out the casualty, the Bangor LB crew member rigged bridle for tow line.

When the Coxswain was satisfied that the casualty’s condition was stabilised the tow line was rigged and towing commenced to the safety of Larne Harbour.    Bangor LB was released and RTS.

Casualty was towed to the Castle Quay in Larne Harbour and handed over to care of Larne CG CRT.

ALB was released and RTS.

RFS 04:00BST

Bangor Lifeboat Jesse Hilyard (above pictured by Aubrey Dale during a Irish Coastguard SAR exercise) assisted Larne ALB Dr John McSparran rescuing ex MFV Audacious off the County Antrim coast on the 19/9/07.  Audacious is pictured below later that morning safely alongside at Larne Harbour.

Belfast MRCC requested launch of ILB to investigate report by local fisherman of canoe washed up on beach approx 1.5M S of Muck Island.

ILB proceeded, located canoe on beach close to Chapman's Rock with no sign of person(s).

Working with Portmuck CG CRT, it was concluded that there had been no person involved, as the canoe was well secured with paddles/water lashed in storage position. Further enquiries by Portmuck CRT at local farmhouse established that owner had left canoe at location.

ILB released, RTS.

RFS 17:49BST.

False alarm with good intent.

ALB launch requested by Belfast MRCC to search for possible missing person in vicinity of Garron Point. Red Bay lifeboat also tasked.

Crew assembled and ALB proceeded. On arrival on scene a close inshore search using the XP boat was commenced from Carnlough round Garron Point to rendezvous with Red Bay lifeboat which had been searching from the north. The search was continued to Cushendall and thence to Cushendun Bay. Cushendall CG CRT and a PSNI helicopter were also involved in the search.

When search area thoroughly covered with no conclusive outcome the lifeboats were released and returned to station.

RFS 16:05BST.

Dr John McSparran in Red Bay on exercise in 2005 was again in the area assisting Red Bay lifeboat search for a possible missing person in the area on the 30/7/07.  Photo: Aubrey Dale

ILB launch request from Belfast Coastguard to assist 6m angling boat "INVER MAID" with 1POB with engine failure at Browns Bay, Islandmagee.

ILB proceeded, located casualty and took in tow to Magheramorne where the casualty was handed over to the care of Larne CG CRT.

ILB released, returned to station and was re-fuelled "ready for service" at 15:09BST.

ALB launch requested to locate and assist 7m cabin cruiser with 5POB broken down near lee shore in Browns Bay.

ALB proceeded and located casualty which had succeeded in restarting the engine. Casualty was escorted back to Ballylumford Harbour and kept under observation until the 5POB were all safely ashore.

ALB was released, returned to station and was "ready for service" at 17:30BST.

Dr John McSparran at Ballylumford watching the cabin cruiser safely get to shore on 24/6/07

ALB launch requested by Belfast Coastguard to assist a 5m angling boat with 2POB which had broken down approximately 2M NE of Drains Bay.

ALB proceeded and located casualty which had suffered main engine failure and seizure of his secondary engine.

The casualty was taken in tow to Larne Harbour and handed over to the care of Larne CG CRT at East Antrim Boat Club.

The ALB was released and returned to station being re-fuelled "ready for service" at 12:05BST.

Larne's ALB crew put angling boat in distress alongside at Larne Harbour on 23/6/07

Just as the ALB was completing the 6-monthly inspection exercise, information was received that a 9m cabin cruiser with 3POB was broken down at Skernaghan Point.

The ALB diverted to the location and located the casualty which was taken in tow to his mooring at Curran Point and the persons landed safely ashore at East Antrim Boat Club.

The ALB was released and returned to station, being re-fuelled "ready for service" at 21:55BST.

Dr John McSparran, pictured bringing a rescued cabin cruiser into moorings at East Antrim Boat Club on 19/6/07 

ILB launch requested by Belfast Coastguard who had received reports of clothing at the water's edge at Chaine Park.

The ILB proceeded and commenced a shoreline search of the area co-ordinated by Larne Coastguard CRT who were searching the shoreline.

With further information, Belfast Coastguard decided that it was unlikely there was a person in the water and the search was terminated at 15:27BST.

The ILB returned to station and was made "ready for service" by15:38BST.

The incident was classed as a "false alarm with good intent."

ALB launch request received from Belfast Coastguard who had received a report from HSS "STENA VOYAGER" of a "shuddering" whilst on passage from Belfast to Stranraer. The fast ferry was concerned in case they had hit an object in the water.

Larne ALB was tasked by Belfast Coastguard to commence a parallel search pattern from the north-west corner of the search area whilst Portpatrick lifeboat commenced a similar search from the South east corner.

With the area thoroughly covered without any apparent casualty being found, both lifeboats were released at 06:10BST to return to their respective stations.

ALB returned to station at 07:02BST and was "ready for service" at 07:25BST.

ALB launched at request of ILB to strengthen search capabilities for missing person in the vicinity of Millbay.

As ALB was leaving berth it was hailed by crew member of local workboat who advised they had a medical emergency. The ALB went alongside the workboat immediately and a collapsed crew person was recovered from the engine space. CPR was commenced pending the arrival of an ambulance and the cardiac car. Sadly, despite the best efforts of the lifeboat crew, the paramedics and the cardiac doctor, the casualty was pronounced deceased by the doctor on scene at 12:47UTC.

The ALB resumed the original task of searching Larne Lough with the ILB until released by Belfast Coastguard at 14:43 returning to station being "ready for service" at 15:00UTC.

Dr John McSparran, pictured here at her berth, responded to a medical emergency and later participated in a search for a missing person on the 15/1/07.

ILB launch requested by Belfast Coastguard to search for person reported missing in the vicinity of Millbay, Larne Lough.

ILB proceeded and commenced search pattern while PSNI personnel search the adjacent fields.

The ILB requested the launch of the ALB to provide better height of eye in the SW7 wind conditions.

Searching continued until released by Belfast Coastguard at 14:33UTC due to the missing person being found deceased by PSNI in a field close to the shore.

ILB returned to station and was "ready for service" at 15:00UTC.

ALB launch requested by Belfast Coastguard who had been notified by Falmouth Coastguard of an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon alert in the vicinity of Red Bay.

In gale force 8 NW winds the ALB made best speed to the area and commenced searching.

Further information from Belfast Coastguard confirmed that the EPIRB had been washed off a vessel about 1 hour previously and that the vessel was not in distress.

With no lives at risk the EPIRB was de-activated and the lifeboat returned to station and was "ready for service" at 17:15UTC.