DESCRIPTIONS OF LIFEBOAT CALL OUTS

Descriptions of the most recent launches of Helensburgh Lifeboat can be found on this page. Notable and Effective launches undertaken by the crew may also be of interest. Follow the links at the foot of this page for details of previous lifeboat Launches.

Just having a Quiet Swim? (Wednesday 21st July, 2010, at 10:16 hrs)

The crew was paged at 10:16 hrs after Clyde Coastguard received a report of a female in the water at Dunoon Pier. A ‘Cancel Launch’ signal was put out 2 minutes later however when it was discovered that the female was simply having a leisurely swim in the sea and was not in any difficulty! (False Alarm with Good Intent).

Female in Water off Helensburgh Sea-front (Sunday 11th July, 2010, at 05:42 hrs)

After receiving information that there was a female in the water off the Helensburgh sea-front, Clyde Coastguard contacted the LOM who in turn paged the lifeboat crew. Despite a rapid turn-out of the crew, and before the ILB could be launched, Clyde Coastguard cancelled the launch as the Police had encouraged the female to come out of the water.

10/24 - Converted Fishing Vessel Aground (Thursday 8th July, 2010, at 15:37 hrs)

The second shout on July 8th was to a vessel aground at Dumbarton Rock; the ‘Nordkapperen’, a 60’ converted fishing vessel. On a rising tide, when the vessel would re-float, the Coastguard was concerned that it would become a hazard, therefore the ILB crew was asked to lay out an anchor to prevent it drifting. Clyde Coastguard was arranging for the vessel to be towed off later in the day. While securing the vessel, the ILB crew discovered that there was water in the forward cabin, however there was no sign of a hole of damage. Although the ‘rescue’ was essentially complete at this time, at the request of the Coastguard, the Lifeboat Launching Authority agreed that the ILB would stand by to ensure the safety of the owner of ‘Nordkapperen’ and the engineers when they returned to the vessel. By 17:50 hrs, the ILB crew had ferried the owner, his wife, and two engineers from Sandpoint Marina in the River Leven out to the ‘Nordkapperen’, and after establishing that they were happy with the condition of ‘Nordkapperen’, the ILB stood down and returned to base, reporting ready for service again at 19:21 hrs. A tug took the casualty on tow once she re-floated.

10/23 - Children on Mud Bank at Parklea (Thursday 8th July, 2010, at 15:19 hrs)

The lifeboat was launched at 15:19 hrs to attend two separate incidents. The first was to Parklea, east of Port Glasgow, where 3 children were reported to be on a mud bank, with a rising tide and surrounded by water. Also attending this incident was a Navy Rescue Helicopter. Shortly after 15:30 hrs, the helicopter lowered a winchman onto the mud bank, and after speaking to the children, he reported that they were not in danger and that they intended to walk ashore. That being the case, the ILB was asked to stand down and proceed to the second incident, a vessel aground at Dumbarton Rock.