Lough Derg RNLI Assist 4 People After Boat Ran Aground
At 12.50pm today, Sunday September 9, Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI to assist 4 people after their boat ran aground when they took a wrong turn in the river above Victoria Lock on the River Shannon.
Winds were west-southwesterly, Force 4/5, gusting 5/6, rain showers, otherwise visibility very good.
Lough Derg RNLI
At 1pm, the lifeboat launched with helm Eleanor Hooker, Owen Cavanagh and Joe O’Donoghue on board. From the boathouse, Peter Kennedy, Deputy Launching Authority at Lough Derg RNLI made contact with Tom McGarry, the Bridge Controller at Portumna to ask him to open the bridge to permit the lifeboat up the river. Mr. Kennedy and fellow Deputy Launching Authority, Tom Hayes called Lock keepers, Stephen McGarry and Ken O’Carroll, at Victoria Lock at Meelick, to let them know that the lifeboat would be at the Lock in an hour. Valentia Coast Guard gave the lifeboat volunteers co-ordinates for the casualty vessel and advised that water levels at the casualty’s location were very low.
The lifeboat arrived on scene at 2.11pm. As the casualty vessel was in shallow water, the lifeboat approached with caution, taking frequent soundings and visual assessment of water depth. The people on board were safe and unharmed, but did not have lifejackets on board. The lifeboat supplied casualty lifejackets and asked all but the skipper to remain below. The skipper had dropped anchor as there was a strong flow, combined with wind, at the location. The vessel had sustained damage to its propellers and drive, but was not holed.
With an RNLI crew member on board, the lifeboat took the casualty vessel under tow and made way back to the main navigation channel. The lifeboat towed the vessel to Shamrock Marina at Banagher, the closest safe harbour and where the vessel had a mooring. At 4pm it was safely tied alongside.
The lifeboat returned to Station and was ready for service again at 5.15pm.
Peter Kennedy, Deputy Launching Authority at Lough Derg Lifeboat Station, advises boat owners to ‘carry lifejackets on board, sufficient for every passenger’. He also advises boat users to ‘carry up to date charts and to familiarize yourselves with the buoyage on the Shannon’.
