Two people were towed to safety after their cruiser lost engine power and was left adrift on Lough Derg this afternoon.
The Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat was tasked to assist the pair after their 18ft vessel suffered engine failure by Hare Island on the Clare side of the lake.
The Dromineer-based volunteer lifeboat crew was alerted by watch officers at the Irish Coast Guard’s marine rescue coordination centre on Valentia Island in Kerry.
The Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat launched with a crew of four at 4.55pm. The wind was north-easterly, Force 3 while visibility was moderate to poor with mist and low cloud cover.
The lifeboat located and was alongside the casualty vessel within minutes. On arrival, the lifeboat crew found that both persons on board were safe and unharmed and wearing their lifejackets.
Given the boat’s location, the weather conditions 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 Dromineer Harbour.
The lifeboat informed Coast Guard staff at Valentia of this decision. An RNLI volunteer transferred across to the casualty vessel and remained on board to assist the skipper with mooring lines once in harbour.
At 5.44pm the casualty vessel was safely tied alongside in Dromineer Harbour. The lifeboat departed the scene and was back at station at 5.46pm.
Jeremy Freeman, Launching Authority at Lough Derg RNLI, advises boat users to ‘plan your passage with close attention to the weather forecast. If you do find yourself in difficulty call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard’.
