2002 Callouts Port St Mary ALB

Service details valid as at 31 December 2002 - All Weather Lifeboat was tasked 19 times

DATE	NATURE OF INCIDENT
23 November	18:31 UTC. A light aircraft on approach to Ronaldsway reported in trouble just before final approach to the airport. At 18:42 UTC the ALB was just proceeding around the end of the breakwater when it was stood down shortly after the aircraft had safely landed . Weather overcast; winds SSE force 5 to 6.
9 November	20:05 UTC. Relief ALB launched to assit local scallop trawler "Fenella Ann", CT27, after it struck rocks just off the Burroo, Calf of Man. Local scallop trawlers De Bounty and Heather Maid also proceeded to assist. The MFV Heather Maid took of the two crew of the Fenella Ann has it settled in the water and sank. The ALB arrived and recovered the MFV's EPIRB and other floating debris. .Weather Wind :SE force 3 to 4
27 October	12:02 UTC. ALB launched to transfer ferry passenger with chest pains from the IOMSPCo ferry Lady of Man as it diverted into the Carrick Bay. Transfer was abandoned in favour a helicopter evacuation by RAF Seaking which took the man directly to Douglas and thence to Nobles hospital.
14 October	11:14 BST. ALB alerted to assist small fishing vessel Marigold III which hit rocks just to the north of the Calf Sound and was taking on water. PSM and Port Erin lifeboat launched to assist. [photographs available]
8 September	13:54 BST . ALB and ILB paged to assist called to assist diveboat suffering engine failure whilst 7divers still underwater whilst drift diving at the west end of Bay Stacka.Weather fine; winds S force 3. [photographs available]
5 September	21:03 BST . ALB and ILB search and locate two boys from a party of three. Two of whom had decide to swim for the shore from their motorboat after it had broken down close to the Carrick Rock. Weather fair, winds WNW force 2.
4 August	11:30 BST. ALB and ILB were returning from a regular training exercise when Liverpool Coastguard advised that the yacht Kittewake of Carrick had suffered engine failure 1.5 miles west of Bradda Head. The yacht was adrift in thick fog with 2 adults and 3 children on board. The yacht was quickly located using VHF direction finder and radar and was taken in tow back to Port St Mary by the ALB. Weather :thick fog; visibility at times less than 25 meters, wind - calm.
8 July	13:18 BST. ALB crew paged for immediate readiness after the yacht 'La Lucha' issued a Mayday radio message after hitting rocks in the Calf Sound. The yacht, a wooden folkboat ,with two persons on board managed to free itself and started towards Port St Mary. 13:34 BST Liverpool Coastguard requested that the ALB, 'Gough Ritchie II', slip her moorings , meet and escort the yacht back to Port St Mary from Spanish Head. Fortunately, the yacht was not holed and did not appear to be taking water. Both vessels arrived safely in harbour at 14:10 BST. Weather fair; winds SSW force 5.
6 July	15:20 BST. Battle of Britain flight Spitfire reported undercarriage failure and requested an emergency landing at Ronaldsway airport. As part of a full emergency turnout, the ALB was launched to stand off Derbyhaven Bay in case of a forced ditching in the sea. Whilst the ALB was proceeding across the Carrick Bay it was stood down shortly after the aircraft had safely landed at 15:30 BST
28 June	20:10 BST. A Commanche single engined light aircraft with just its pilot aboard on approach to Ronaldsway reported a possible undercarriage failure just before final approach to the airport. Only two of three lights indicating that the undercarriage had locked in place were indicated. Whilst the aircraft made another circuit to raise the undercarriage and lower it again the ALB crew were paged for immediate launch in order to stand off Derbyhaven. Whilst the ALB was proceeding across the Carrick Bay it was stood down shortly after the aircraft had safely landed at 20:20 BST. The ALB was back picking up her moorings at 20:30 BST. Weather overcast; winds nor-westerly light.
22 June	15:55 BST. 'Gough Ritchie II' had just returned from conducting a regular crew training exercise when details of yacht 'folksong' in difficulties started to come through Liverpool Coastguard. The lifeboat was slipped from her moorings five minutes later to go to a position 10.5 miles to the SSE of Port St Mary to assist. Weather: Overcast, frequent rain showers; visibility moderate locally poor in rain Wind: SSW force 5
20 June	09:10 BST. Yacht Jester of Castletown with 2 people on board ran into the rope to a string of lobster pots a few hundred marts SE of the Stack at Scarlett point. Her propellor became fouled and the vessel effectively anchored. With no other vessels in the vicinity to assist the lifeboat was called out. On arrival at the yacht at 09:30 BST , emergency cox'n and experienced diver, Mike Keggin donned a dry suit and entered the water in order to cut the yacht free. Fifteen minutes later the vessel was freed and taken in tow into Castletown. The lifeboat was back on station at 10:30 BST. Weather partly cloudy, visibility good, wind SW force 3
10 June	18:20 BST. A charter flight on route to Ronaldsway reported a possible engine fire to one of its two engines just before final approach to the airport. The flight had two crew and 18 passengers. The ALB crew were paged for immediate launch however the flight had safely landed before the boat got under way. Stood down at 18:32 BST.
15 May	17:32 BST : Called to the aid of an ex-oil rig lifeboat, 1.5 miles south of Langness Point. Weather: fine; Wind: SSW force 5; sea-state moderate.
6 May	00:06 BST : Called to the aid of an ex-oil rig lifeboat, 3 miles south of Chickens Rock Lighthouse. Weather: fine; Wind: NE force 3; sea-state slight.
23 Apr	19:45 BST: Called to aid of the yacht Scarmari , 4 miles west of Chickens Rock Lighthouse. Weather: thick fog visibility , wind WSW 4
16 Mar	10:15 UTC. Stoodby fisheries protection vessel Barrule which was carrying a bomb disposal squad to deal with the mine picked up by the fishing boat 'Rebecca Elizabeth'. The lifeboat was deployed to act as a guard vessel to prevent any vessels straying too close to where navy divers were working on the mine. A controlled explosion occurred at 15:20 UTC after which the lifeboat was released from safety duty. (see below)
12 Mar	20:15 UTC. Lifeboat was launched to go to the aid of a Northern Irish fishing boat, 'Rebecca Elizabeth', which had picked up an unexploded mine in its nets.
15 Feb.	09:45 UTC The small Northern Irish prawn trawler 'Tullaghmurray Lass' with 3 on board was reported overdue and sparked a massive search by air and sea units as well as a large portion of the fishing fleet from Kilkeel, Co. Down.. Weather NW force 2; sea-state slight.