2012 Service Calls

12/05 - Persons in Difficulty? (Sun 13th May at 17:19 hrs)

Clyde Coastguard requested lifeboat launch at 17:19 hrs after receiving a report that there was a rowing boat in difficulty in the Westcliff area of Dumbarton; it was reported that there were possibly 2 persons on board plus another 2 in the water. The crew was paged and the lifeboat launched 7 minutes later. A search was conducted of the area from Ardoch up to the River Leven at Dumbarton with nothing found. In addition to the lifeboat, Coastguard Auxiliaries, Fire & Rescue, the Police and an Ambulance were also involved in the incident. Shortly after 18:00 hrs, it was concluded that this was a hoax which the Police intended to follow up. The ILB therefore returned to station and reported ready for service again at 18:48 hrs.

12/04 - Fishing Vessel Aground (Sun 15th April at 10:42 hrs)

At 10:42 hrs, Clyde Coastguard contacted the station Launching Authority to request Lifeboat assistance as a 5 metre fishing vessel had gone aground on the shore at Cove. After launching at 10:47 hrs, the Lifeboat crew proceeded to the area where they found the vessel, the 'Dobhran Mara', hard aground close to the Knockderry Hotel on an ebbing tide. As the vessel would not re-float for several hours, the lifeboat crew laid out an anchor for the 'Dobhran Mara', and after checking the vessel for damage, returned to base.

Cancelled Launch - Intoxicated Female Stranded on Rocks (Sunday 18th March at 15:24 hrs)

At 15:24 hrs the lifeboat crew was paged as Clyde Coastguard had received a report from Fire and Rescue that there was an intoxicated female stranded on rocks near Coronation Park, Port Glasgow. Just as the lifeboat was leaving the launching trolley however, the shout was cancelled as Fire & Rescue had managed to get the casualty off the rocks by undertaking a shoreside rescue.

12/03 - Naked Man Crosses Railway Line? (Sat 25th Feb at 14:58 hrs)

At 14:58 hours Helensburgh RNLI Lifeboat was called to a report that an elderly naked man had been seen crossing the railway line between Cardross and Dalreoch and was heading towards the river Clyde. The lifeboat launched and attended the scene, as did the police helicopter and coastguard auxiliaries. A search was made of the area but nothing found.

12/02 - Capsized Kayak off Kilcreggan (Sat 11th Feb at 13:22 hrs)

At 13:22 hrs, Clyde Coastguard initiated the launch of Helensburgh RNLI Lifeboat to go to the assistance of a man in the water off Kilcreggan Pier. It appears that the man had fallen into the water from a Kayak and was in difficulty. On arrival the crew found that the man had been assisted to shore by a friend in another Kayak.

12/01 - 5 Persons Rescued from Yachts in Rhu Marina (Tues 3rd Jan at 08:41 hrs)

At 08:41 hours, Clyde Coastguard requested the assistance of Helensburgh RNLI lifeboat crew as there were 5 persons on board yachts in Rhu Marina that required assistance to get ashore. The persons had been on board overnight and with storm force winds recorded, accompanied by a heavy sea running through the marina, were unable to get ashore. The extreme weather conditions had caused several yachts to break their moorings in the marina and several vessels had sunk. As weather conditions were exceeding the lifeboat's operational limits, the lifeboat crew had to go out onto the marina walkways to assist; at times the walkways were moving vertically by some 1 metre making it extremely hazardous.

In very dangerous conditions 8 lifeboat crew members assisted the 5 persons ashore, at times having to proceed on hands and knees due to the violent movement of the walkways.

By about 0935 hours, all persons were safely ashore, and as a precaution an ambulance crew checked out 2 of the rescued persons. The wind direction was westerly with gusts of 61 knots recorded in the marina.