The Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat was tasked this afternoon to a report of a 36ft vessel reported aground at Gortmore Point.
Watch officers at the Irish Coast Guard’s marine rescue sub centre on Valentia Island in Kerry received an initial report that there were two people on board the vessel.
Shortly after 1.03pm, armed with this information, the volunteer run Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat was launched from its base at Dromineer.
At 1.15pm the lifeboat located the casualty vessel inside Navigation Mark H and 25ft from shore. The lifeboat stood off to observe the casualty vessel, which appeared to be raised out of the water and pivoting on a central point.
With a volunteer taking soundings at the bow, and using on board electronic charts, the lifeboat navigated a safe passage to the vessel. Soon afterwards, the lifeboat was alongside the starboard, stern side of the cruiser. RNLI volunteers noted hazards in the water close by.
An RNLI volunteer boarded the casualty vessel and established that there were three people on board, all safe and unharmed and wearing their lifejackets. The RNLI crew enquired if there were any more people on board they were told that a fourth member of their crew had swam to shore.
The skipper of the casualty vessel had deployed the anchor in an attempt to prevent further drift towards shore. They informed the lifeboat that they had damaged their propellers and suffered engine failure after hitting rocks. An RNLI volunteer checked under the floorboards and reported back to the lifeboat that there was no ingress of water or visible damage to the hull,
Given that the vessel was high out of the water and appeared to be pivoting on a rock, and hadn’t changed its aspect to weather with the anchor out, the helm made the decision to take everyone off the cruiser and onto the lifeboat, having first ensured that the casualty vessel was secure with windows closed and gas supply switched off.
The lifeboat informed Valentia Coast Guard of this decision and the plan to moor up at the nearby Gortmore Harbour, so that two RNLI volunteers could walk back to locate the person who had swam to shore. Shore crew back at boathouse informed the cruiser company.
Accompanied by one of the casualties, two volunteers set out on foot from Gortmore Harbour to search for the fourth casualty. A member of the public who had offered to drive down the road to assist in the search, located the casualty and drove him back.
With the four casualties reunited, the lifeboat took them to Portumna, where their car was located. The lifeboat departed the scene at 2.39pm.
Aoife Kennedy, Launching Authority at Lough Derg RNLI advises boat users ‘to stay with your vessel and if in danger call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard’.
