RNLI crew volunteers respond to shipping lanes collision

The value of the volunteer Royal National Lifeboat Institution service around the UK is demonstrated in the article below. They can be support in various ways. See here how you can do so. Much like the Coastguard organisations so many are used to, the RNLI are ready to help at a moments notice. The difference is that they are volunteers. The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. They provide a 24-hour lifeboat search and rescue service around the coasts of the UK and Republic of Ireland, as well as a seasonal lifeguard service on many of the busiest beaches in England and Wales. Their dedication to helping others is clear in this article.

Salcombe All Weather Lifeboat: Nicholas Leach

The Salcombe all-weather lifeboat crew volunteers onboard the Baltic Exchange III were launched at 6.55pm on Friday night (11 February) to assist in the search and recovery of two fishermen thrown over board when their vessel was in collision with a large container ship 31 nautical miles south of Start Point.
The Admiral Blake, a large 22 metre fishing vessel was working within the busy English Channel shipping lanes, when she was in collision with the Container vessel. The Salcombe Tamar class all-weather lifeboat with her volunteer crew of seven was immediately tasked along with Portland Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 106.
Arriving on scene at 8.24pm the Salcombe crew found that the Admiral Blake had been holed below her waterline and was taking on water. The skipper was satisfied that the water tight bulkheads were holding. The decision was taken to place two lifeboat crew members onboard the fishing vessel to assist.
One fishing boat crew member, who had been thrown overboard, was recovered almost immediately by the fishing boat. He was assessed, and appeared to be comfortable and warm and no further treatment was required.
Meanwhile, the other man thrown overboard spent over an hour in the water while a fast rescue craft from the container vessel searched for him. He was recovered by the rescue craft and transferred to the helicopter. The casualty was then airlifted to hospital.
It was confirmed that both casualties had not been wearing lifejackets.
The vessel was placed under tow and the two RNLI crew members assembled a salvage pump and continued to pump water out of the Admiral Blake throughout the long journey to Plymouth. A low speed is required whilst towing a vessel, especially when the vessel is badly damaged.
On arriving in Plymouth just before 6am on Saturday morning, the tow was passed to the crew of the Plymouth all-weather lifeboat who secured the vessel at Victoria Wharf.
The Salcombe lifeboat arrived back at her moorings at around 6.55am.
Salcombe RNLI lifeboat duty Coxswain Kevin Favis explained:
‘It was a long call out for my well trained and experienced volunteer crew, who not only gave up their time for an all night rescue, but also dedicate many of their own hours to vital crew training.’

Author: Dan Ashton , Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer