Ballycotton Lifeboat

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution exists to save lives at sea and is entirely supported by voluntary contributions. Registered Charity No CHY2678

Service Calls for 2003  Service Calls for 2004  Service Calls for 2005

Service Calls for 2006  Service Calls for 2007  Service Calls for 2008

Service Calls for 2009

All service reports are listed with the most recent at the top of the page

13/09  24/09/09  Remoored: 21:00  Weather:  WSW  F. 4  Vis. Good  Sea: Moderate  Crew: Ian Sheridan (Cox), Redmond Lane Walsh, Peter O'Shea, Máire Scanlon, Diarmuid Walsh, Niall O'Keeffe, Shane Walsh

Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat, Austin Lidbury, launched to assist the MVF, Kate Marie, experiencing mechanical difficulties 12.5 miles south of Ballycotton.  The vessel, with two persons aboard, was taken in tow at 19:00 hours and brought to Ballycotton.  The 36 ft. fishing vessel was safely secured alongside the pier wall at 20:40 hours.

12/09  13/08/09   Remoored: 14:20  Weather: SE F. 2  Vis. Good  Sea: Calm  Crew: Ian Sheridan (Cox), Michael Lane Walsh, Redmond Lane Walsh, Mike Hallahan, Niall Hassett, Diarmuid Walsh

Ballycotton Cox, Ian Sheridan, received a call from a mobile phone seeking assistance.  The 35 ft Irish registered yacht, with three persons aboard, had lost power 12 miles east of Ballycotton.  They had no navagational aids and were unsure of their exact position.  The Waterford based Coastguard helicopter, Rescue 117, was tasked to confirm the yacht's exact position and Ballycotton lifeboat, Austin Lidbury, was also launched.  Ballycotton lifeboat arrived at the casualty at 12:45 and placed a crewmember aboard.  A towline was established and the yacht was taken to Ballycotton, where it was safely secured alongside the pier wall at 14:00.

11/09  19/07/09  Remoored:  12:00  Weather: NW F. 4  Vis. Good  Sea: calm  Crew: Ian Sheridan (Cox), Peter O'Shea, Padraig Finn, Eolan Walsh, Máire Scanlon, Shane Walsh, Aiden Sliney

Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat was requested to launch to a 32 ft. fishing vessel, Sailor's Guide, seeking assistance off Ballycroneen Bay, east of Cork Harbour.  The Ballycotton lifeboat, Austin Lidbury, slipped her moorings at 10:20 am arriving at the casualty at 10:45 am.  A tow line was established and the fishing vessel, with two persons aboard, was towed safely to Ballycotton harbour.

10/09  29/06/09  Remoored: 07:20  Weather:  Calm  Vis: Poor  Sea: calm  Crew: Ian Sheridan (Cox), Redmond Lane Walsh, Eolan Walsh, Peter O'Shea, Máire Scanlon, Shane Walsh

The lifeboat pagers were activated at 06:05 am and the crew assembled at the station.  The 33 ft. yacht, Dream Seeker, had engine problems 1.5 miles southwest of Ballycotton lighthouse.  There was a thick fog in the area but the lifeboat reached the casualty at 6:30 am.  The fog lifted a little at that time which made it easier to establish the towline.  The yacht with four persons on board was towed to Ballycotton pier, arriving at 07:10 am.

09/09  14/06/09  Rehoused:  07:45  Weather: Southerly F. 2 / 3,  Vis. Good  Sea: Slight swell  Crew: Redmond Lane Walsh, Padraig Finn

On arrival on scene it was noticed the yacht had started to float.  The boarding boat placed the two crewmembers on board the Laperra.  A light line was attached and the boarding boat pulled the 22 ft. yacht into deeper water where they secured a stronger line which was then passed to the waiting lifeboat, Austin Lidbury.  The yacht was towed to Ballycotton harbour.  The yacht appeared to be taking in some water.  It was taken deep into the harbour where it could be placed on the strand at low tide and the damage investigated. 

08/09  14/06/09  Remoored:  07:30  Weather: Southerly F. 2 / 3,  Vis. Good  Sea: Slight swell  Crew: Ian Sheridan (Cox), Peter O'Shea, Máire Scanlon, Maria Morrison, Michael Lane Walsh, Orla Lynch

The crew assembled at the station at 06:30 am to see if they could rescue the stricken yacht and again both the all weather lifeboat and the boarding boat were launched. Two crewmembers from the yacht accompanied them.  The yacht crew were placed aboard the yacht, which was now afloat, and a towline was attached.  The yacht was towed to Ballycotton harbour.

07/09  14/06/09  Rehoused:  03:40  Weather: Southerly F. 3  Vis. Moderate  Sea: Moderate  Crew: Redmond Lane Walsh, Padraig Finn

Having assembled at the boathouse it was decided to launch the lifeboat boarding boat as it would not be possible to get close to the yacht in the all weather Trent class lifeboat.  The boarding boat very carefully made their way to the yacht, Laperra, as it was a dark night and the water was shallow.  Their path was lit as well as possible by the lifeboat searchlights.  The lifeboat crewmembers assisted the three men from the yacht into the boarding boat and placed them aboard the all weather lifeboat, on standby further out.  The boarding boat returned to station alongside the Austin Lidbury.

06/09  14/06/09  Remoored:  03:30  Weather: Southerly F. 3  Vis. Moderate  Sea: Moderate  Crew: Ian Sheridan (Cox), Peter O'Shea, Maria Morrison, Michael Lane Walsh, Máire Scanlon, Orla Lynch

A 999 call was made from a mobile phone on board the 22 ft yacht, Laperra, advising they were on rocks off Ballycotton and in need of assistance.  The call was put through to Valentia Coast Guard who requested Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat to launch.  On responding to the pager alert it was evident to the lifeboat crewmembers arriving at the boathouse what the problem was.  The port light on the yacht could be seen clearly from the shore.  The Austin Lidbury and the lifeboat boarding boat were both launched at 02:25 am and proceeded to the scene.  The lifeboat stood by in deeper water illuminating the area while the boarding boat carefully made its way to the yacht.  The yacht was fast aground and the three crewmembers were taken into the boarding boat.  They were placed aboard the all weather Trent class lifeboat and taken to Ballycotton pier. 

05/09  27/05/09  Weather:  Vis: Good  Sea:  Crew: Ian Sheridan (Cox), Peter O'Shea, Niall Hassett, Máire Scanlon,

Ballycotton lifeboat arranged to do an exercise with the Coastguard rescue helicopter based at Waterford regional airport.  Before they could meet up a call was received to the lifeboat station about a small boat that was alleged to have capsized and a person missing off Garryvoe beach.  The lifeboat proceeded to the area and launched its XP boat to search closer to the shore while they searched in Ballycotton bay.  Rescue 117 arrived on scene and assisted in the search.  Having satisfied themselves that the boat and its crew was safely ashore the search was called off and the lifeboat proceeded with its planned exercise with the  helicopter.

04/09  20/05/09  Remoored: 11:15  Weather: SSW F3 / 4  Vis. Good  Sea: Slight  Crew: Ian Sheridan (Cox), Michael Lane Walsh, Redmond Lane Walsh, Maire Scanlon, Mike Hallahan, Niall O'Keeffe, Niall Hassett

Valentia Coastguard activated the lifeboat pagers and the crew assembled at the station.  The Austin Lidbury launched at 09:15 and headed towards Power Head, east of Cork Harbour.  The MFV Kate Marie, a 36 ft fishing vessel with 2 persons on board, had mechanical problems and was in need of a tow.  The Austin Lidbury arrived on scene at 09:35 and established a tow line.  The fishing vessel was towed into Ballycotton, arriving at 10:45, where it was safely secured alongside the pier wall.

03/09  08/03/09  Remoored: 00:30 on 09/03/09  Weather: NW F2 / 3  Vis. Good  Sea: Slight  Crew: Eolan Walsh (Cox), Michael Lane Walsh, Peter O'Shea, Brian Motyer, Aiden Sliney, Niall Hassett

Valentia Coastguard alerted the station that a car had driven off the cross river car ferry in Cork harbour and requested they launch.  On arrival at the scene the crew of the Austin Lidbury were advised that there were two persons in the car when it went into the water and that one survivor had been recovered.  A search of the area was carried out by two RNLI lifeboats, Ballycotton all weather Trent Austin Lidbury and Crosshaven in-shore lifeboat Miss Betty, the Irish Naval service, Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 117, Irish Coast Guard, Cork Harbour Pilot Boat, the Gardai, Fire Brigade and civilians, with the search being coordinated by Ballycotton lifeboat.  Despite the use of sounding equipment the vehicle and its remaining passenger was not found.  The search was called off for the night and all services were stood down at 22:45.  Ballycotton lifeboat returned to station at 00:30 on 9 March.

02/09   15/02/09  Remoored: 16:30  Weather: W F3  Vis:  Poor improving to Good  Sea:  Calm  Crew:  Redmond Lane Walsh (Cox), Peter O'Shea, Niall Hassett, Diarmuid Walsh, Maria Morrison, Michael Lane Walsh, Shane Walsh

Ballycotton RNLI lifeboat, Austin Lidbury, launched at 12:00 to assist the fishing vessel, Spes Firma, experiencing mechanical difficulties 20 miles south east of Ballycotton.  A tow line was established and the casualty, with two persons aboard, was towed to Ballycotton, where it was safely secured alongside the pier wall at 16:00 hours.

01/09  03/02/09  Remoored: 13:00  Weather:  WNE F.6  Vis: Moderate (snow showers)  Sea: Moderate Crew:  Ian Sheridan (Cox), Michael Lane Walsh,  Máire Scanlon, Redmond Lane Walsh, Niall Hassett, Niall O'Keeffe

The crew pagers were activated for a yacht, Beluga, seeking assistance 9 miles south south west of Ballycotton.  The yacht was on passage to Greece but was heading to Crosshaven to await favourable weather conditions to complete its journey.  The Austin Lidbury was launched and towed the vessel to Crosshaven.

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