The Killaloe unit of the Irish Coast Guard was tasked this evening to assist the skipper of a barge that suffered engine problems on Lough Derg.
The team was alerted at 7.25pm by watch officers at the Irish Coast Guard’s marine rescue coordination centre on Valentia Island in Kerry.
A 52-foot barge, with one person on board, was reported to have suffered problems with its engine north of Illaunmore. Killaloe Coast Guard launched from their base at Pier Head Killaloe at 7.36pm and reached the scene at 7.58pm.
The Killaloe Coast Guard boat was able to the casualty vessel on tow to Dromaan Harbour in East Clare where it was safely tied up shortly before 9.00pm.
Meanwhile, earlier today, Killaloe Coast Guard and the Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat were requested to assist a couple in difficulty in Killaloe.
The Lough Derg lifeboat crew had been on a training exercise in the Killaloe area when they were alerted at Coast Guard staff in Valentia. The Killaloe Coast Guard, based nearby, was also tasked.
The couple, who been moored at harbour near Killaloe, had requested assistance getting their sick dog from their boat to their car.
Volunteers created a stretcher from a blanket from the owner’s cruiser and carried the sick animal to the car, for its onward journey to see a vet.