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2020 |
Please
scroll downwards to find date of Service |
24
February 2020 @ 20:17
Shout No. 1 |
Lifeboat crew stood down before launch.
|
7
March 2019 @ 10:38
Shout No. 2 |
Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service at
the request of Belfast CGOC following a call
for assistance by 2 kayakers who had made
their way onto Island Taggart, Strangford
Lough, reporting that 6 other persons were
in difficulty.
H M Coastguard search and rescue teams tasked
from Portaferry and Bangor. Tasked also
were the H M Coastguard SAR helicopter R199
from Prestwick, the Northern Ireland Air Ambulance
Helicopter, an ambulance Incident Response
Unit and paramedics.
On arrival on scene off Don O'Neill Island
at 10:53 the Portaferry Lifeboat proceeded
North and quickly located a green hulled Canadian
style canoe with 3 persons on board which
had taken on water with another person in
the water holding on to the canoe.

Photo: RNLI
- Jordan Conway LPO
After recovering the 4 canoeists the lifeboat
proceeded to Don O'Neill Island where a lifeboat
crew member went ashore to assist 2 kayakers
on the island in boarding the lifeboat.

Photo:
RNLI - Jordan Conway LPO
All 6 casualties were then taken by the lifeboat
to safety ashore at Killyleagh where HM Coastguards
were in attendance with paramedics and ambulance
crews.
Portaferry Lifeboat then proceeded to Island
Taggart to stand off whilst the HM Coastguard
SAR helicopter R199 airlifted 2 persons to
a landing site at Killyleagh where they were
handed into the care of an air ambulance medical
team.

Photo: Portaferry
Coastguard Search & Rescue Team
Following medical assessment of all 8 casualties
none required further medical assistance.

Photo: Portaferry
Coastguard Search & Rescue Team
Portaferry Lifeboat subsequently returned
to recover 2 Canadian style canoes, 2 kayaks
and some personal belongings left on Don O'Neill
Island by two of the casualties before standing
down and returning to station.
|
10
March 2020 @ 20:12
Shout No. 3 |
Launch
to incident off Ardglass but stood down prior
to arrival on-scene. Information to follow when
available. |
6 May 2020 @ 12:28
Shout No.4
|
Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service at
the request of Belfast CGOC following reports
of a person in the water clinging to a small
craft at Greyabbey Bay, Strangford Lough.
Portaferry Coastguard rescue team and Irish
Coast Guard rescue helicopter R116 also tasked.
Whilst the lifeboat was off the lateral marks
at Kircubbin Bay on passage to the casualty
reports were received that the person had
made their own way to safety ashore.
Helicopter R116 stood down.
Portaferry Lifeboat stood down and returned
to station.
Note - later in the afternoon reports
were also recieved by Belfast CGOC of a person
in the water in Cloughey Bay after their kayak
had sunk. Donaghadee and Portaferry
Lifeboats requested to launch at 14:33 and
Coast Guard helicopter R116 also tasked. Following
the arrival on scene of Portaferry Coastguard
rescue team it was ascertained that the casualty
was safely ashore and the launch of Portaferry
Lifeboat and tasking of rescue helicopter
R116 were cancelled.
Donaghadee Lifeboat, already on passage,
arrived on scene and on ascertaining that
all persons were safe ashore returned to station.
|
24
May 2020 @ 13:19
Shout No.5 |
Report received by Belfast CGOC that a windsurfer
might be in difficulty South of Greyabbey,
Strangford Lough.
Lifeboat crew stood down and lifeboat launch
aborted following confirmation by Belfast
CGOC that the windsurfer had made their own
way to safely ashore,
|
5
June 2020 @ 12:31
Shout No.6 |
Crew
paged - launch aborted |
7
June 2020 @ 15:12
Shout No.7 |
Report received by Belfast CGOC of a broken-down
jetski with 2 persons on board off Cloughey
and now drifting approximately 2NM out to
sea with a kayker who had gone to their assistance.
Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service and
proceeded to the reported casualty position.
On arrival on-scene 3 persons were recovered
from the water by the lifeboat crew and taken
to safety ashore where coastguards from Bangor
and Portaferry were in attendance.
Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station.
|
19
June 2020 @ 17:04
Shout No.8 |
Information
to follow when available |
21 June 2020 @ 21:13
Shout No.9
|
Reports received by Belfast CGOC of the sighting
of what appeared to be the hull of an up-turned
boat approximately 1NM off the County Down
coast, near Ardglass. Urgency PAN PAN messages
broadcast by Belfast GCOC.
Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service and
proceeded to the search area. Coastguard
SAR helicopter Rescue-199 tasked from Prestwick.
Newcastle Coastguard shore rescue team
tasked.
On arrival in the search area Portaferry
Lifeboat crew commenced a search and following
visual assistance by coastguards and others
from ashore the lifeboat crew located the
rermains of a whale of approximately 4m in
length. Rescue-199 on passage to the
area was then stood down.
Following the lifeboat crew conveyed the
Lat/Long position of the deceased whale to
Belfast CGOC for retransmission as a potential
navigational hazard, Portaferry Lifeboat returned
to station.
|
25 June 2020 @ 17:04
Shout No.10
|
Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service at
the request of Belfast CGOC following the
report of a 21ft boat with engine failure
in a position East of the Strangford Bar Bouy.
On arrival with the casualty vessel, which
had been able to anchor, the lifeboat crew
secured a tow line and the vessel was taken
under tow to Portaferry Marina where coastguards
were in attendance.
Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station
|
27June 2020 @ 17:04
Shout No.11
|
Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service at
the request of Belfast CGOC following a request
for assistance from a 7m RHIB with engine
failure and drifting towards Angus Rock at
the entrance to Strangford Lough. 3 persons
on board.
Portaferry Lifeboat crew located the casualty
vessel close to Angus Rock. Vessel taken
under tow to Portaferry Marina where 3 persons
were landed to safety ashore with coastguards
in attendance to assist.
Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station
|
28
June 2020 @ 11:40
Shout No.12 |
Portaferry Lifeboat requested to launch by
Belfast CGOC following a request for assistance
by kaykers on Salt Island, Strangford Lough,
and unable to leave the island safely due
to increasingly poor sea conditions in strong
to gale force winds.
Portaferry Lifeboat proceeded to Salt Island
and took 9 kayakers to safety ashore at Quoile
Yacht Club.
Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station.
|
4
July 2020 @ 14:49
Shout No.13 |
Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service at
the request of Belfast GGOC following a request
for assistance from a 7m angling boat with
engine problems but able to anchor off Tara,
South of Kearney Point. 4 persons on board.
Portaferry Lifeboat proceeded to the casualty
position and on arrival on scene the lifeboat
crew secured a tow-line to the casualty vessel.
Portaferry Lifeboat proceeded to Portaferry
Marina with the casualty vessel under tow
and on arrival 4 persons were landed to safety
ashore with coastguards in attendance to assist.
Portaferry Lifeboat returned to Station.
Photo:
Portaferry Coastguard rescue team
|
2 August 2020 @ 13:59
Shout No.14
|
Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service at
the request of Belfast CGOC following the
report of a person missing off Cloughey in
a small sailing vessel.
Donaghadee Lifeboat and Portaferry Coastguard
Rescue Team also tasked.
Following a report by coastguards that the
missing person was safely ashore Portaferry
and Donaghadee lifeboats which were on passage
to the area were stood down and returned to
their stations.
|
4 August 2020 @ 11:39
Shout No.15
|
Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service at
the request of Belfast CGOC following the
report of a car in the water at Strangford
Quay.
On arrival at Strangford Quay the lifeboat
crew immediately commenced working to support
members of the public to rescue any casualties
from the vehicle. A male casualty was
subsequently recovered from the water and
taken on board the lifeboat before being transferred
into the care of the Northern Ireland Ambulance
Service at Strangford.
Following the casualty being recovered from
the water a search for any other missing persons
was commenced by Portaferry Lifeboat and the
Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 199.
When it was ascertained that no other persons
were missing, Portaferry Lifeboat and the
CG Rescue Helicopter 199 were stood down.
The casualty, who had been transported to
the Royal Victoria Hospital, was later pronounced
deceased. (The person taken from the water
was later named as Mr Brian Black.)
A number of agencies and persons involved
in the rescue operation included the Northern
Ireland Air Ambulance, the Northern
Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, the Northern
Ireland Ambulance Service, the PSNI, HM Coastguard
Helicopter Rescue 119, the Portaferry Coastguard
Rescue Team and members of the public including
an off duty paramedic.
Following the rescue attempt, Philip Johnston,
Portaferry RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager,
issued a statement - ‘On behalf of all the
volunteers at Portaferry RNLI, we would like
to extend our sincere condolences to the family
of Brian Black. Our thoughts are with them
at this difficult time.’
|
5
August 2020 @ 23.22
Shout No.16 |
Portaferry Lifeboat launched at the request
of Belfast CGOC following reports from members
of the public who heard shouts for help from
a kayker in the water in the proximity of
the Walter Rock.
On arrival of the lifeboat on-scene the volunteer
lifeboat crew were assisted by the public
in quickly located the casualty who was still
in the water and who had been clinging onto
his kayak for over 15 minutes.
After taking the kayaker on board the lifeboat
it proceeded to the ferry slipway at Portaferry
where the casualty was landed to safety ashore
and into the care of the Portaferry and Bangor
coastguard rescue teams and the Northern Ireland
Ambulance Service.
|
8
August 2020 @ 20.50
Shout No.17
|
Portaferry Lifeboat launched at the
request of CGOC Belfast following reports
that a 7m yacht with 3 persons on board had
reported engine difficulties whilst on passage
in the Strangford Narrows. Casualty vessel
located aground at Rue Point by Portaferry
Coastguard Rescue Team.
On arrival of the Portaferry Lifeboat with
the casualty vessel a tow line was established
and the vessel was taken to Strangford Quay
where 3 persons were landed to safety ashore.
Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station.
|
16
August 2020 @ 15.56
Shout No.18 |
Yacht reported aground off Mahee Island.
Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service and
on arrival with the casualty vessel it was
found to be hard aground on an ebbing tide.
All persons on board found to be safe and
well and further assistance not required.
Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station.
Note: Casualty vessel safely refloated
on following flood tide with Newtownards Sailing
Club rescue RHIB in attendance.
|
23
August 2020 @ 16.39
Shout No.19
|
Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service
following a report that a 25ft yacht was possibly
adrift in Doctors Bay, South of Kircubbin.
On arrival on-scene the lifeboat crew reported
that the yacht was safely anchored.
Portaferry Lifeboat returned to Station.
|
25
August 2020 @ 10.01
Shout No.20 |
Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service at
the request of Belfast CGOC following receipt
of a request for assistance from a 36ft yacht
anchored east of Island Taggart, Strangford
Lough, with engine difficulties and in danger
of drifting towards shore in F7 to F8 easterly
winds. 2 persons on board.
Donaghadee Lifeboat tasked by Belfast CGOC
to assist.
Commercial barge Skua on passage in
Strangford Lough proceeding to assist.
Portaferry Lifeboat proceeded to the casualty
position and on arrival a crew member was
put on board the yacht to help in securing
a tow line and the retrieval of the vessel's
anchor. Both persons on board were safe and
well.
Following a tow-line being secured
and the vessel's anchor safely retrieved,
Portaferry Lifeboat proceeded at slow speed
towards Killyleagh with the casualty vessel
in tow.
Donaghadee Lifeboat stood down
by Belfast CGOC and returned to station.
Commercial barge Skua on passage to
assist stood down.
On arrival off Killyleagh the casualty vessel
was transferred onto a mooring off Killyleagh
Yacht Club with the two persons on board safe
and well.
Portaferry Lifeboat returned to Station.
|
26
August 2020 @ 10:56
Shout No.21 |
Portaferry Lifeboat launched to assist a
13m yacht aground close to the entrance to
Portaferry Marina.
Yacht found to be hard aground on an ebbing
tide. All persons on board safe and well.
Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station.
Vessel re-floated successfully on following
flood tide and berthed safely in Portaferry
Marina
Photo: Portaferry
Coastguard Rescue Team
|
30
August 2020 @ 14:32
Shout No.22 |
Report received from a yacht by Belfast CGOC
advising that a paddle-board had been found
drifting southward in Ringhaddy Sound.
Owing to the possibility that someone was
missing Portaferry Lifeboat was launched on
service.
Whilst on passage the owner of the paddle-board
advised Belfast CGOC that their paddle-board
drifted away from its teather and that they
were safe and well.
Portaferry Lifeboat was stood down and returned
to station.
|
30
August 2020 @ 16:29
Shout No.23 |
Belfast CGOC received a request for assistance
from a 6m motor boat having lost engine power
and drifting eastward from a last know position
between the Strangford Fairway Buoy and St
Patricks Rock.
Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service and
quickly located the casualty vessel.
Casualty vessel taken under tow to
Portaferry Marina where members of the Portaferry
Coastguard Rescue Team were in attandance
and all persons from the casualty vessel were
landed to safety ashore.
Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station.

Photo: Jordan
Conway LPO - Portaferry RNLI
|
31
August 2020 @ 14:53
Shout No.24 |
Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service at
the request of Belfast CGOC following the
activation of an EPIRB registered to a 10m
fishing vessel, indicating a position on the
western area of Strangford Lough.
Bangor and Portaferry Coastguard rescue teams
tasked.
Portaferry Lifeboat requested to conduct
a sea search from Ringhaddy Sound northwards.

Photo: Marine
Traffic
Following an extensive search
exceeding 2.5 hours no EPIRB location was
detected.
EPIRB source located at Killyleagh
by coastguard team.
Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station at
17.23
|
2
Sept 2020 @ 11.23
Shout No.25 |
Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service following
a report of a small yacht aground close to
the shoreline 0.5NM north of Newtownards Sailing
Club.
Portaferry Lifeboat arrived on scene where
a coastguard team were attempting to prevent
the casualty vessel drifting further onto
rocks.

Photo: Belfast
Coastguard Rescue Team

Photo: Marine
Traffic - 2 Sept 2020
After the lifeboat crew secured a
towline the casualty vessel was taken under
tow towards Newtownards Sailing Club. On
arrival off NSC a safety boat was in attendance
and gave assistance to the lifeboat crew in
securing the yacht to a suitable mooring.
Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station.
|
18
Sept 2020 @ 15:40
Shout No.26 |
Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service following
the report of a 8m yacht aground at the Limestone
Rock, Strangford Lough, with 2 persons on
board.
Portaferry Lifeboat proceeded to the
casualty position and on arrival on scene
the lifeboat crew gave assistance in deploying
the vessel's anchor on the ebbing tide. 2
persons from the casualty vessel then landed
to safety ashore at Ringhaddy.
Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station.
|
27
Sept 2020 @ 14:52
Shout No.27 |
Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service at
the request of Belfast CGOC following receipt
of a 999 call reporting that a 11 year old
girl had fallen onto a cliff ledge at Ardglass,
County Down.
HM Coastguard rescue teams from Portaferry,
Newcastle and Kilkeel tasked.
Portaferry Lifeboat arrived on scene
off Ardglass Golf Club and was tasked to stand
by at sea whilst coastguard teams used rope
rescue equipment to bring the girl to the
top of the cliff. The coastguard rescue team
then gave assistance to a member of the public
who had attempted to reach the young girl
from the bottom of the cliff.
Portaferry Lifeboat was stood down and returned
to station.
|
12
Nov 2020 @ 16:46
Shout No.28 |
Portaferry Lifeboat launched at the request
of Belfast CGOC following the report of an
18ft open fishing boat aground due to engine
difficulties at Granagh Bay, Strangford Narrows.
One person reported to be on board.
Vessel located and taken under tow to Strangford
harbour.
Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station.
|
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Please scroll upwards
for earlier 'shouts' during 2020 |