Port St Mary Lifeboat Station - Callouts 30 December 2000
08:45 UTC Liverpool Coastguard Marine Rescue SubCenter alerted the crew pagers of our ALB crew. A steel 43ft long motor cruiser called "Billantrobus" was reported as taking water some 16 miles south of the Isle of Man . The vessel was manned by only one crewman (the vessels owner) and had departed Bangor, Northern Ireland, the previous evening bound for Rhyl, North Wales. (At 06:00 UTC he had alerted the Coastguards that he was having difficulty navigating when just to the south of the Isle of Man but was in no immediate danger and he decided to continue with his passage.)
Ten minutes later at 08:55; Liverpool MRSC also alerted a RAF Seaking helicopter from RAF Valley, Angelsey to transfer a salvage pump out to the vessel. At the same time RNLB "Gough Ritchie II" left its winter berth alongside the Alfred Pier, also carrying a salvage pump. ETA for the helicopter was 30 minutes and 45 minutes for the lifeboat.
At 09:10 UTC "Billantrobus" reported his heading as being 140 degrees (approx. south-eastwards) and was requested to revert to original course towards the Isle of Man by the pilot of Seaking Rescue 122. Due to localised sleet showers it was not until 09:35 that Rescue 122 reported that had both the casualty and Lifeboat in visual range. Five minutes later the lifeboat was also on scene [position 53 deg 48.56 min North; 4 deg 33.09 min West; 17 miles from Port St Mary]. "Billantrobus" was proceeding northwards erratically at 2 to 3 knots.
Lifeboat Coxswain Johnny Williams requested the Rescue 122 place their salvage pump aboard "Billantrobus" in view of the sea conditions. Weather on scene was northerly force 4 with a short sharp sea of 1m height. Transferring the pump from the helicopter would be easier than between heaving boats and also left the lifeboat salvage pump in reserve to be put aboard if the flooding got worse.
Once the helicopter winchman and pump were on board, the lifeboat came alongside and two lifeboat crewmembers transferred in one pass to the casualty in order to assist in pumping the vessel out, check the condition of the single crewmember and arranging a tow. 4 feet of water was reported in the aft tiller space. Fortunately the leak did not appear to be sizable and the salvage pump cleared the majority of water within five or so minutes. The vessels' engines and batteries were not flooded and the skipper was able to manoeuvre under his own power.
At 10:08 UTC "Billantrobus" was requested to stop in order that a tow line could be passed. Seven minutes later the lifeboat got underway with "Billantrobus" in tow punching into a short 'head' sea (i.e the waves were directly on the bow). A short while afterwards Rescue 122 manoeuvred astern of the casualty, recovered their winchman and then flew back to RAF Valley.
At 10:30 UTC Liverpool MRSC was informed that the lifeboat would arrive back at Port St Mary along with "Billantrobus" two hours later.
The return tow was uneventful and the lifeboat arrived off the end of the Alfred Pier 10 minutes early !! at 12.23 UTC. The vessel got alongside under its own power and was assisted in mooring by lifeboat personnel and Coastguards.
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Two lifeboat crew board "Billantrobus" - helicopter winchman waiting for them |
Lifeboatcrew hauling the tow line across to "Billantrobus" with Rescue 122 in the background |
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Lifeboatcrew making fast the tow line to "Billantrobus" with Rescue 122 in the background |
Has the sun breaks out for the first time Rescue 122 recovers their winchman |
Edited 01 January 2001
