AQUARIUS FR95

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Latest news

Distressed trawler kept afloat

On Mar 15, 2016, the "Atlantic - N 258" began taking on water during heavy swells 18 nautical miles south-east of Kilkeel Harbour off the County Down coast. he bilge pump was unable to cope with the water entering and at one stage the fish room was three quarters full. The water in the fish room began to affect the stability. The crew of seven considered boarding its life raft when it discovered its fish room was three quarters full of water shortly after 9 a.m. They summoned assistance from RNLI crews from Kilkeel and Newcastle. The rescue was carried out by Kilkeel RNLI's inshore lifeboat and Newcastle all weather lifeboat. With the Kilkeel and Newcastle lifeboats co-operating well together, the fishing vessel was saved. With careful and skilful manoeuvring in an increasingly heavy swell, two of the Kilkeel lifeboat crew went aboard the fishing vessel and transferred a pump. The Kilkeel RNLI lifeboat then transferred a pump from the Newcastle lifeboat and with all the pumps working the boat was kept afloat. The two lifeboats escorted the "Atlantic" under her own power, safely into Kilkeel harbour, arriving at about 12.45 p.m. As it arrived back, it went on to the slipway and an investigation into what had caused the ingress of water was started. Reports with photos and video: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/crew-rescued-from-trawler-awash-with-water-in-heavy-seas-34539651.html http://www.afloat.ie/safety/lifeboats/item/31610-kilkeel-lifeboat-aids-fishing-vessel-rapidly-taking-on-water

Medevac off Whitehaven

On July 6, 2014, at 12:07 a.m. the St Bees RNLI relief lifeboat "Eric C Guest" was launched on service having been paged by the Liverpool Coastguard. They were requested to go to the assistance of the "Atlantic". A 52-year-old crew member had been reported to have stomach pains and was drifting in and out of consciousness. There was insufficient water for the survey vessel to enter Whitehaven Harbour, so it was decided that they should head for the more sheltered waters of Saltom Bay where the volunteer crew of St. Bees RNLI transferred the casualty to the lifeboat. The St. Bees lifeboat was then able to take the casualty to Whitehaven Harbour where an ambulance was waiting. The lifeboat was returned to station and made ready for service at 3:30 a.m.