As Peel’s RNLI volunteers were preparing for a training exercise on Thursday (June 6) they responded to a request from HM Coastguard at 5pm to assist a vessel that had issued a Pan Pan call.
The Pan Pan call indicates an urgent but not life-threatening situation.
The engine of a nine metre river cruiser with two persons aboard had failed.
It had left Peel earlier in the afternoon on its way to Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland.
Vessel in trouble
The skipper of the cruiser was unable to pinpoint its exact location, thought to be approximately seven miles west of Peel.
With information from a passing yacht the crew of Peel’s Shannon class lifeboat, Frank and Brenda Winter, was able to make contact and located the vessel some 14 miles to the west of Peel.
Mike Faragher, Peel’s volunteer coxswain, explained: ‘The pair aboard the casualty vessel had been wearing lifejackets and were well despite lumpy sea conditions.
‘With the vessel dangerously adrift in a shipping lane, it was decided the safest, most sustainable course of action would be to first establish a tow to move the vessel to safety in more favourable sea conditions further west, then to request the RNLI lifeboat from Newcastle, County Down, to meet us and continue the tow to Strangford Lough.
‘We are grateful for the assistance of the Newcastle crew in helping the cruiser to safely reach its destination.’
By 10pm, Peel lifeboat was rehoused and ready for service again.
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