Second launch of the day for Baltimore lifeboat

Baltimore RNLI was called out for a second time on Tuesday to a pleasure boat with engine trouble near the Kedge, east of Baltimore Harbour, having carried out a medical evacuation from Cape Clear Island earlier in the day.  

This time, the inshore lifeboat was launched at 3.34pm at the request of the Irish Coast Guard to assist a 31ft pleasure boat, with two people on board, that had broken down east of Kedge Rock which is a mile south east of the entrance to Baltimore Harbour.

The lifeboat with three volunteer crew on board, helm Kieran Collins and crew members Ian Lynch and David Ryan reached the casualty vessel at 3.45pm and immediately secured a tow line to the bow of the vessel. After confirming the two people on board were okay, they towed the vessel back to its own mooring within Baltimore Harbour.  Once the lifeboat crew were happy that the casualty vessel was secure, they returned to Baltimore lifeboat station, arriving at 4.32pm. Assisting at the lifeboat station were Rianne and Jerry Smith, Eoin Ryan and Youen Jacob.

Conditions at the time were calm with a south easterly force 3 wind and no sea swell.

Speaking following the call out, Kate Callanan, Baltimore RNLI volunteer lifeboat press officer, said: ‘There are a lot of areas along the coastline where phone signal is not available so it is important to remember when going to sea to carry a working VHF radio as a means of communication in an emergency and to wear lifejackets or buoyancy aids at all times.  

‘If you get into difficulty at sea or on the coast, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.’