14 April 2019 @ 01:51
No.1

Provisional information

Yacht reported by Belfast Coastguard to have hit rocks at Rainey Island, Strangford Lough. 3 persons on board.

Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service and proceeded to Rainey Island.

On arrival the lifeboat crew found that the casualty vessel was clear of the rocks, and after ascertaining that all on board were safe, escorted the yacht and its crew to safety onto a jetty at Strangford Lough Yacht Club.

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to Station at 0335.

20 April 2019 @ 14:52
No.2

Provisional information

Belfast CGOC received reports of a small angling boat with engine failure near the Fairway Buoy off the Strangford Narrows. 3 persons on board.

Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service and proceeded to the casualty vessel's position.

On arrival on scene the lifeboat crew secured a tow line to the vessel and took it under tow to the Cooke Street quay at Portaferry where 3 persons were landed to safety ashore with the Portaferry Coastguard Rescue Team in attendance.

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station at 16:15

26 April 2019 @ 17:05
No.3

Provisional report

Report to Belfast CGOC of the possibility of 3 persons in difficulty in a dinghy off the shoreline near Mountstewart, Strangford Lough.

Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service and proceeded initially to Pig Island, Strangford Lough and commenced a search of the sea area and the shoreline.
Coastguard Rescue Helicopter R119 also tasked and commenced an aerial search of the area.
Coastguard Rescue Teams tasked to search the shoreline.

Following an extensive search nothing found and all SAR services stood down.

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station.

14 May 2019 @ 22:10
No.5

Provisional information

25ft sailing vessel with one person on board reported as missing by HM Coastguard. Believed to be on passage from a last known position off the Mull of Galloway to Galway, Republic of Ireland.

Following a search by the Coastguard SAR Helicopter Rescue 199 of the Solway Firth and the north Irish Sea between the Mull of Galloway and the Ards Peninsula the missing vessel was located approximately 5NM east of Portavogie, County Down, Northern Ireland.

Portaferry Lifeboat 'Blue Peter V' launched on service at the request of Belfast CGOC and made way to the casualty vessel position which was located close to the South Rock.

Photo: Portaferry RNLI

On arrival with the casualty vessel the lifeboat crew firstly ascertianed that the person on board did not require medical assistance. It was established that the casualty vessel had lost engine power and was unable to make under sail way due to the light winds.   The SAR helicopter Rescue 199 was then stood down and returned to base.   

Photo: Portaferry Coastguard Rescue Team

After the lifeboat crew had secured a tow line to the casualty vessel it was taken under tow to Portavogie harbour where 1 person was landed to safety ashore and where a Portaferry Coastguard Rescue Team was in attendance.

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station

Request to launch Portaferry Lifeboat received from Belfast CGOC following a report from a fishing boat in a position approximately 21NM west of Peel, Isle of Man, that it was rapidly taking water. 5 persons on board. On board water pumps failing to cope.

Peel Lifeboat launched at 18:05 and Donaghadee Lifeboat at 18:10 and proceeding to the casualty vessel's position. Portaferry Lifeboat launched at 18:46 to assist.

Donaghadee Lifeboat arrived with the casualty vessel at 19:02 in fresh northerly F5 winds with moderate sea conditions. On arrival with the casualty vessel the crew had managed to lower the water level using the vessel's own water pumps and the skipper was content to proceed towards the fishing port of Portavogie on the east coast of Northern Ireland escorted by Donaghadee Lifeboat.

Portaferry Lifeboat tasked to stand-by off Portavogie to assist Donaghadee Lifeboat escorting the casualty vessel into Portavogie harbour. Peel Lifeboat had been previously stood down and returned to station.

Photo credit: Scott Hay

Following the safe arrival of the casualty vessel into Portavogie harbour Donaghadee and Portaferry lifeboats were stood down and returned to their stations.

Portaferry Lifeboat launched at the request of Belfast CGOC to assist in the search for a high risk missing person in the Portaferry area.

Portaferry and Bangor Coastguard Rescue teams along tasked.

The missing person was located by PSNI safe and well.

Portaferry LIfeboat returned to station

Portaferry Lifeboat launched at the request of Belfast CGOC following the activation of an EPIRB distress beacon indicating an approximate distress position 2NM off-shore from Ballyhalbert, County Down.

Donaghadee Lifeboat and HM Coastguard SAR helicopter Rescue 116 tasked. Bangor and Portaferry Coastguard rescue teams also tasked. Irish Navy vessel LÉ CIARA offered assistance.

Following the commencment of an extensive sea and land search by all the tasked services, direction finding equipment aboard Rescue 116 assisted in locating the EPIRB signal as emanating from an inland agricultural building.  On subsequent investigation the EPIRB had been activated inadvertently.

All services stood down.

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station at 21:05

Portaferry Lifeboat requested to launch by Belfast CGOC following the receipt of an urgency call (Pan Pan) from a 21ft yacht off Newtownards Sailing Club which had engine difficulties and was in danger of drifting ashore. 2 persons on board.

Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service and proceeded to the casualty vessel's position. On arrival a tow line was secured to the yacht by the lifeboat crew which was taken under tow to nearby moorings.

Photo: Bangor Coastguard Rescue Team

2 persons were subsequently landed to safety ashore at Newtownards Sailing Club where a Bangor Coastguard rescue team were in attendance.

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station at 13:15.

Following the return of the lifeboat to the station the crew observed a 6m yacht that appeared to be adrift and unable to make way in the Strangford Narrows.

Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service and assisted it taking the drifting yacht which had one person on board to the safety of a mooring in Castleward Bay.

Portaferry Lifeboat then remained in the Strangford Narrows for the triathlon swim between Strangford and Portaferry when the crew monitored the safety of those participating in the event.

Following the completion of the triathlon Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station.

Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service following a report of an apparently un-occupied dinghy drifting in the Strangford Narrows on the flood tide.

Dinghy located and taken by a local vessel into Strangford village.

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station.

Belfast CGOC requested the launch of Portaferry Lifeboat following a request for assistance from a 7m yacht aground at Roe Island Strangford Lough. Two persons on board.

Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service and proceeded to Roe Island.

On arrival with the casualty vessel at 01:18 the lifeboat crew assisted in taking the yacht under tow to safer water where an anchor was successfully deployed.

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station at 01:44.

Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service following a report that two racing yachts had capsizing near Lee's Wreck in Strangford Lough.

On the arrival of the lifeboat on scene both yachts had been righted by their crews and all persons were safe aboard and no further assistance was now required.  It was ascertained that both yachts had capsized and others had been in difficulty during a sudden and severe squall.

Following the release from this incident Belfast CGOC requested the lifeboat to proceed to the aid of a 36ft yacht which was in difficulty after running aground off Don O'Neill Island. Newcastle all weather lifeboat had previously been launched to assist but was stood down whilst on passage shortly after Portaferry Lifeboat arrived with the casualty vessel.

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station at 16:40

1 Sept 2019 @ 15:00
Shout No.17

Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service at the request of Belfast CGOC following receipt of a report that a small 6m motor boat was aground at Marlfield Bay. 2 adults and 3 children on board.

Whilst the lifeboat was on passage another boat in the area had taken the casualty vessel under tow and both vessels were escorted by the lifeboat into Portaferry Marina.

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station at 16:00.

Newcastle and Portaferry Lifeboats requested to launch by Belfast CGOC following a Mayday call from a 24 metre fishing vessel with 5 persons on board that was drifting towards Phennick Point after loosing engine power. Irish Coast Guard SAR Helicopter Rescue 116 tasked. Newcastle and Portaferry Coastguard rescue teams also tasked.

Whilst both lifeboats were on passage the fishing vessel grounded on rocks in rough weather and was starting to take on water.

Portaferry Lifeboat arrived on scene at 06:03 followed by Newcastle Lifeboat at 06:25 when attempts were made to tow the fishing boat off the rocks.  Irish Coast Guard rescue helicopter Rescue 116 had been tasked to provide water pumps for use by the casualty vessel.

Due to worsening sea conditions the fishing boat was driven further onto the rocks and attempts by the lifeboats to refloat the vessel were unsuccessful.

Photo: Ciara Van Vogt

Due to the imminent danger of the vessel sinking it was decided to task Rescue 116 to airlift the 5 crew members off the fishing boat.

Photo: Ciara Van Vogt

Following the successful airlifting of the fishing boat's crew to safety ashore Newcastle and Portaferry lifeboats were stood down and returned to their stations.