The Killaloe of the Irish Coast Guard and Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat was tasked last evening to assist three people on a cruiser with a possible fire on board.
The alarm was raised shortly after 7.00pm yesterday when watch officers at the Irish Coast Guard’s marine rescue coordination centre in Kerry was notified of the incident.
The Dromineer-based Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat was requested to launch to assist the people on a 32ft cruiser that had suffered engine failure after the vessel’s engine overheated. At the time, the casualty vessel was reported to be at anchor south of the Mountaineer Buoy, Navigation Marker C.
By 7.30pm, the lifeboat was alongside the casualty vessel. All three people on board were safe and wearing their lifejackets. The skipper explained to the RNLI volunteers that when their engine had overheated, they immediately switched it off and deployed their anchor. They had checked the engine housing and the engine was cooled when the lifeboat arrived.
An RNLI volunteer transferred across to the casualty vessel. Given the vessel’s location on the navigation route, progressive nightfall and the possibility of initiating another emergency response should the vessel be left where it was, the helm made the decision to take the vessel under an astern tow to the nearest safe haven at Garrykennedy Harbour.
The Killaloe unit of the Coast Guard, both land and water units, were also deployed from their base at Pier Head, Killaloe.
The Coast Guard land team confirmed that there was space at the pontoon immediately inside the breakwater at Garrykennedy Harbour. Members assisted with lines when berthing the casualty vessel in Garrykennedy. The casualty vessel was safely tied alongside at 8.20pm
Jeremy Freeman, Launching Authority at Lough Derg RNLI, advises boat users to ‘make sure your engine is serviced before you set out and if in difficulty dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard’.
