Boat launched: Atlantic 85
Date: Friday 6th April
Launched: 15:30
Returned to Station: 18:00
Weather: Calm and mild. NW F2/3
Solent Coastguard requested the launch of a lifeboat to go to the assistance of a vessel located south of the Chichester Harbour entrance which was taking in water. It was thought that this was due to a split engine cooling pipe.
The Atlantic 85 was launched and reached the scene where a crew member was put on board. He quickly identified that the cause of the leak was not the cooling pipe. The situation had some urgency since of the crew of seven, five were children and so they, together with one adult, were taken onto the lifeboat leaving the skipper and the lifeboat crew member on board.
The RNLI salvage pump was put on board and the vessel taken in tow. It soon became apparent that the salvage pump was not coping with the ingress of water and so the skipper was taken off the vessel which continued under tow towards the harbour entrance.
Whilst this rescue was proceeding, the Lifeboat Station had contacted the Chichester Harbour Master to gain agreement that the casualty vessel could be towed into the harbour, and to request that their patrol boat met the lifeboat and brought with it the high capacity ‘crash/trash pump.’
The lifeboat helm in communication with the crew member aboard the vessel was then alerted to the worsening situation as the salvage pump was not coping adequately with the incoming water. He took the decision to beach the vessel and this was successfully achieved on the Hayling Island shore close to Bosmere Road.
The lifeboat then took all seven casualties to the Hayling Island Sailing Club where they were passed into the care of the Coastguard. It then returned to the casualty vessel where it met the Harbour Patrol. The high volume pump was deployed, the vessel re-floated and taken in tow by the Harbour Patrol. With the lifeboat escorting them and the pump coping with the inflowing sea water they reached Sparks Marina safely, where the vessel was then lifted out.
With both personnel and boat now safe, the lifeboat returned to the station and was made ready for further service.
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