A motor cruiser with three people on board has been towed to safety after suffering engine failure on Lough Derg on Wednesday night.
The 28ft vessel was reported to be adrift without power north of Dromaan Harbour off the Clare shore of the lake.
The Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat was tasked at 9.37pm by watch officers at the Irish Coast Guard’s marine rescue coordination centre on Valentia Island in Kerry. The Dromineer-based volunteer operated lifeboat launched within five minutes of the crew being paged.
The lake was calm while visibility was said to be moderate at time of launch with clear skies but imminent nightfall.
At 9.48pm the lifeboat located and came alongside the casualty vessel. The two adults and a child on board were safe and unharmed and wearing their lifejackets.
Given the cruiser’s location adrift and without lights, the helm deemed it posed a direct risk to navigation and with the possibility of another emergency response being initiated if the cruiser was left where it was, the decision was made to assist the vessel to he safest close haven.
An RNLI volunteer transferred across to the casualty vessel and remained on board to assist the skipper once in harbour. At 10.12pm the casualty vessel was safely tied alongside in Dromaan Harbour near Whitegate in East Clare. The lifeboat departed the scene and was back at station at 10.28pm
Tom Hayes, Launching Authority at Lough Derg RNLI offered the following advice to boat users: “As we head into the boating season, ensure that your engines are serviced. Check that you have sufficient fuel for your journey.”
Last Sunday, the Killaloe unit of the Irish Coast Guard towed another vessel to safety in Dromaan Harbour.
The 52ft barge suffered engine failure north of Illaunmore on Lough Derg. Coast Guard volunteers responded from their base at Pier Head Killaloe and after locating the vessel took it on tow and assisted the skipper and sole occupant moor his vessel in Dromaan Harbour.