Service Calls for 2004

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

13/04  11/12/2004  Launched: 23:10  Remoored:  4:45  Weather:  S/SE 4  Visibility:  Moderate  Crew:  Ian Sheridan (Cox), Peter O'Shea, Padraig Finn, Redmond Lane Walsh, Orla Lynch,  Francis McMahon, Laura McLeod

Ballycotton Lifeboat Station were advised the MFV "Paulona" had a rope on its propellor and was in need of assistance.  A fishing vessel in the vicinity took her in tow and rendezvoused with Ballycotton Lifeboat, Austin Lidbury, 23 miles south of Ballycotton.  Ballycotton Lifeboat established a tow at 12:40 and proceeded to Ballycotton, arriving 4:15.  The MFV "Paulona" was maneuvered alongside the pier and secured.  The lifeboat was refueled and ready for service again at 4:45.

12/04  10/11/2004  Launched: 07:40  Remoored: 10:10  Weather: N/W 5/6  Visibility:  Good  Crew: Ian Sheridan (Cox), Redmond Lane Walsh, Máire Scanlon, Padraig Finn, Niall O'Keeffe, Colm Sliney

Received a call from the skipper of the MFV "Paulona" advising that they were experiencing gearbox problems and were in need of assistance.  The relief lifeboat, "Ann Lewis Fraser" was launched at 7:40 and proceeded to the scene, 8 miles east of Ballycotton.  The Arun class relief lifeboat arrived at the scene at 8:10 and established a tow at 8:16.  The stricken vessel was taken to Ballycotton, arriving at 9:40, where it was secured alongside the pier.  The lifeboat was refueled and ready for service again at 10:10.

11/04  03/11/2004  Launched: 12:15  Remoored:  20:15  Weather: Variable F1  Visibility:  Good  Crew: Ian Sheridan (Cox), Michael Lane Walsh, Orla Lynch, Dickie Walsh, Tom McLeod

At 11:59 the Ballycotton pager system was activated by Valentia Coastguard for the MFV Honey Dew II, who had wrapped her propellor and was in need of assistance 30 miles south of Ballycotton.  The crew assembled in the boathouse and the relief lifeboat "Ann Lewis Fraser" slipped her moorings at 12:15.  The Arun class relief lifeboat arrived at the scene at 14:05 and established a tow with the stricken vessel.  However, the initial tow line broke at 14:20 and a new line had to be established.  At 14:30 the Ballycotton relief lifeboat proceeded to Ballycotton harbour with the 80 foot, Kinsale based, fishing vessel in tow, arriving at 19:30.  The MFV Honey Dew II was maneuvered alongside the pier and secured.  The Ballycotton relief lifeboat, "Ann Lewis Fraser" refueled and was ready for service again at 20:15. 

10/04  23/09/2004  Launched:  7:39  Remoored:  12:00  Weather:  Westerly F. 2 / 4  Vis.  Good  Crew: Ian Sheridan (Cox), Michael Lane Walsh, Laura McLeod, Orla Lynch, Aidan Sliney, Brian Motyer 

The Ballycotton based fishing vessel, MFV Paulona, contacted Mine Head Coastguard Radio that they were experiencing engine difficulties 12 miles south of Ballycotton.  The pager system was activated and the Ballycotton, Arun class, relief lifeboat, Ann Lewis Fraser, slipped her moorings at 7:39 and proceeded to the casualty.  They reached the MFV Paulona at 8:40 and took the 12 metre fishing vessel under tow.  They arrived back to Ballycotton at 11:15 where the casualty was maneuvered to the pier wall and safely secured.  The relief lifeboat was refueled and ready for service again at 12:00.  

09/04  15/08/2004  Launched:  11:30  Remoored:  12:30  Weather:  Southerly  F. 2 / 3  Vis. Good  Crew: Eolan Walsh (Cox), Michael Lane Walsh, Peter O'Shea, Aidan Sliney, Kieran Lynch, John Roberts, Stephen Connolly

A report was received from the local coastguard unit of a dingy washed ashore off Ballycrennan Beach, on the north side of Ballycotton Bay.  There was a yacht anchored in the area but the coastguard were unable to make contact on the VHF.  The relief lifeboat, Inner Wheel II, and the Ballycotton lifeboat station boarding boat were immediately launched and proceeded to the area.  The boarding boat went to the yacht, Day Dreamer, and were advised that the dingy had broken loose during the night and that all people aboard the yacht were accounted for.  The relief lifeboat and the boarding boat returned to station.  The lifeboat was remoored and ready for service again at 12:30.

08/04  13/08/2004  Weather:  Variable  2 / 3   Vis. Good   Crew:  Ian Sheridan (Cox), Redmond Lane Walsh, Lorcan Dignan, Brian Motyer, Aidan Sliney

Whilst on passage from Ballycotton to Howth with the Arun class relief lifeboat, Ann Lewis Fraser, a conversation was heard between the fishing boat, Stetru, and Rosslare coastguard.  The fishing vessel had a rope fouled on its propeller and was in need of assistance, 4 miles east of Kilmore Quay, Co. Wexford.  As the relief lifeboat was only half a mile from the fishing vessel the Ballycotton crew went to his assistance.  A tow line was attached and the vessel was towed towards Kilmore Quay.  Due to tidal restrictions the Arun class lifeboat, Ann Lewis Fraser, was met a mile from Kilmore Quay by the local lifeboat and the tow line was transferred.  The Ballycotton crew continued on their journey to Howth.

07/04  11/08/2004  Launch: 12:55  Remoored: 14:45  Weather: SE   F 4  Vis. Good  Crew: Eolan Walsh (Cox), Redmond Lane Walsh, Fergal Walsh, John Roberts, Aidan Sliney

Launched to the assistance of the 21 ft. pleasure craft "Barracuda", 1 1/2 miles west of Ballycotton Lighthouse.  The pleasure craft had suffered engine failure and was drifting towards the Smith's rock.  The Arun class relief lifeboat "Ann Lewis Fraser" arrived at the scene at 13:05 and established a tow line.  The "Barracuda" was towed to Ballycotton, arriving at 14:20.  The relief lifeboat was refueled and ready for service again at 14:45.

06/04  19/07/2004  Launch: 14:10  Remoored: 16:00  Weather: SW F 2 / 3  Vis. Good  Crew: Ian Sheridan (Cox), Michael Lane Walsh, Stephen Connolly, Máire Scanlon, Brian Motyer, Laura McLeod

Launched to the assistance of the 38 ft. MFV Susan Marie, who had steering failure 1/2 mile south of the Daunt Rock Buoy. The relief lifeboat, Inner Wheel II, arrived at the rescue site at 14:47 but were advised that the fishing vessel had accepted a tow from a passing boat and was being towed back to its home port of Crosshaven.  Returned to station at 15:30, and was ready for service again at 16:00.

05/04  16/06/2004  Launch 15:15  Weather SW F 4 - 5   Vis. Good   Crew: Ian Sheridan (Cox), Michael Lane Walsh, Redmond Lane Walsh, Kieran Lynch, Máire Scanlon, Anita Archer, Colin Archer

Whilst on route to Kinsale boatyard Ballycotton relief lifeboat, Duke of Windsor, was notified that a mother and child had been washed into the sea off Ballycroneen Strand.  The lifeboat immediately turned around and proceeded to the scene.  Crosshaven Lifeboat was also launched, along with Rescue Helicopter 117 based at Waterford.  Both swimmers managed to return to shore unaided, where an ambulance was on hand to take the child to hospital as a precaution. Both lifeboats and the helicopter were stood down and Ballycotton relief lifeboat continued on to Kinsale. 

04/04  30/03/2004  Launch 06:50  Remoored 10:15  Weather E NE F 5 Vis 5 miles Crew: Redmond Lane Walsh (Cox), Michael Lane Walsh, Máire Scanlon, Padraig Finn, Aidan Sliney

Launched to the assistance of the MFV "Rosses Fisher", 11 miles south south west of Ballycotton with gearbox trouble.  Reached the casualty at 07:30, established a tow and proceeded to Ballycotton.  Casualty arrived at Ballycotton at 09:40.  The "Austin Lidbury" was remoored and ready for service again at 10:15.

03/04   25/03/2004  Launch: 15:45  Remoored 07:00 on 26/03/04  Weather: NE F 6-7   Vis Good   Crew:  Redmond Lane Walsh (Cox), Kevin Honeyman, Peter O'Shea, Trevor McNamara, Laura McLeod, Fergal Walsh, Richard Walsh.

Launched to the assistance of the 80 foot trawler, MFV "Honey Dew II", 40 miles south of Ballycotton, with engine failure.  Arrived at the casualty at 17:45, attached a tow line and proceeded to Cobh.  Due to the sea conditions at the time progress was slow, making only 4 knots.  Arrived at Cobh at 4:40 and back at station again at 6:10.  The "Austin Lidbury" was remoored and ready for service again at 7:00.

2/04   20/01/2004  Launch: 18:30  Remoored 21:30  Weather: Westerly F 3-4   Vis Good   Crew: Ian Sheridan (Cox), Redmond Lane Walsh, Peter O'Shea, Máire Scanlon, Stephen Connolly, Brian McNamara, John Roberts.

Launched to the assistance of the 20 meter trawler MFV "Branding", with a crew of 3 aboard, 24 miles east of Ballycotton, with a fire in the wheelhouse.  Dunmore East Lifeboat was also launched as a precaution.  Arrived at the casualty at 19:40 and informed the fire had been extinguished by the trawler crew.  The fishing trawler was then escorted, under its own steam, by Dunmore East Lifeboat back to harbour.  "Austin Lidbury" returned to Ballycotton at 21:00 and ready for service again at 21:30.

1/04   02/01/2004  Launch: 19:30  Remoored 22:30  Weather: F 4-5 S/SW  Vis Poor  Sea Moderate                             Crew: Ian Sheridan (Cox), Michael Lane Walsh, Redmond Lane Walsh, Peter O'Shea, Brian McNamara, Máire Scanlon, Stephen Connolly.

Launched to the assistance of the  MFV "Rosses Fisher" with engine failure 5 miles South of Ballycotton.  Established tow line and proceeded to Ballycotton. Passage was slow due to a heavy object caught in the trawl, which was still lowered in the water due to lack of power aboard the fishing vessel.  The casualty arrived at Ballycotton at 22:00. The "Austin Lidbury" was remoored and ready for service again at 22:30.