Lough Derg RNLI responded to assist three individuals aboard a 32ft cruiser that experienced engine failure.
At 7:14pm on Friday, July 26th, Valentia Coast Guard requested the Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat to launch in order to aid the crew of the cruiser, which had suffered engine failure due to overheating. The vessel was anchored south of the Mountaineer Buoy, Navigation Mark C.
Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat Jean Spier launched at 7:19pm, with helm Eleanor Hooker and crew members James Corballis, Ciara Lynch, and Deirdre Gleeson aboard. Wind conditions were south-westerly, at Force 3, gusting to Force 4, with good visibility.
Upon arriving at 7:30 pm, the lifeboat approached the distressed vessel. The three occupants were safe and wearing life jackets. The skipper informed the RNLI crew that they had turned off the engine and deployed the anchor after it overheated. The engine compartment was checked, and the engine had cooled down by the time the lifeboat arrived.
A volunteer from the RNLI boarded the cruiser. Considering the vessel’s location on the navigation route, advancing darkness, and the potential need for further emergency assistance if the vessel remained where it was, the helm decided to tow the cruiser to the closest safe harbor at Garrykennedy. The lifeboat communicated this decision to Valentia Coast Guard. By 7:50 PM, the lifeboat had commenced towing the casualty vessel to Garrykennedy.
Killaloe Coast Guard’s land and water units were also dispatched from their base at Killaloe. The Killaloe Coast Guard confirmed that there was availability at the pontoon just inside the breakwater at Garrykennedy Harbor. The land unit assisted in securing the lines during the berthing process, and the vessel was safely moored at 8:20 PM.
The lifeboat then left the scene and returned to the station, where it was washed down and refueled by 8:51pm.
Jeremy Freeman, the Launching Authority at Lough Derg RNLI, advises boaters to “ensure your engine is serviced before departing, and if you find yourself in trouble, dial 999 or 112 and request the Coast Guard.”
