The Killaloe unit of the Irish Coast Guard was called out this afternoon to reports that a sailing boat was adrift on Lough Derg.
A Coast Guard boat crew launched from their base at Pier Head in Killaloe and made way towards Church Bay. At the time, it wasn’t known whether there was anyone on board the casualty vessel.
In the meantime, a passing vessel spotted the sailing boat and took it on tow towards Dromineer Harbour. Watch officers at the Irish Coast Guard’s marine rescue coordination (MRCC) centre on Valentia Island in Kerry was notified of the situation by VHF radio.
At Dromineer Harbour the sail boat was safely moored and a Coast Guard crew member was transferred to the casualty vessel to check for any signs that someone might have been on board.
There was no sign of any person on the boat and all indications were that the vessel might have broken free from its mooring.
After some inquiries the owner of the vessel was contacted and confirmed it had broken free from its mooring. The Coast Guard updated MRCC in Valentia and confirmed they were happy to stand down the crew and return to base.
The Coast Guard team at Killaloe praised the skipper of the vessel which took the sailing boat on tow before it was damaged on the shoreline.
