Boat suffered engine failure

At 2.37pm today, Thursday (August 30th), Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI to assist a boatman whose motor-boat had suffered engine failure and was drifting towards rocks at a location north of Illaunmore.

 

At 2.57pm, helm at Lough Derg Lifeboat Station Eleanor Hooker spoke to the boatman on his mobile telephone to get information on his location. The RNLI volunteer reassured the skipper, who said he was wearing his lifejacket, and told him that the lifeboat was about to launch to his assistance. She advised him to vent his fuel tank and then to prime the fuel line and to make sure the engine was in neutral before attempting to restart his engine.

At 2.58pm, as the lifeboat was about to depart the pontoon, the RNLI crew were advised that the skipper had successfully restarted his engine, was under way and making way. Valentia Coast Guard asked the lifeboat to stand down.

 

Eleanor Hooker advises boat owners to “carry an anchor, with appropriate cable, rope or chain length, on your boat, to prevent drifting towards obstacles in the case of engine failure or in heavy weather”.