The volunteer crew of Hoylake RNLI lifeboat were called to give assistance to a RHIB with a group of divers on board after it suffered engine failure near the Mersey Bar.
The four crew of the dive boat Argo were well-equipped to deal with the situation they found themselves in when the engine of their craft broke down. They were able to call for assistance from the Coastguard by calling them on their marine band VHF radio. As soon as the Coastguard was alerted to the casualty’s situation they requested the launch of Hoylake RNLI lifeboat with Coxswain Tony Warburton.
The crew pagers were set off at 9.55 am and the lifeboat was towed across the East Hoyle Bank and launched within 15 minutes. Proceeding at full speed they reached the casualty and had it under tow by 10.50 am. They towed the 6 metre Argo back to its launch site at New Brighton beach where it was safely recovered at 12.30 pm.
Experienced lifeboat crewman and professional seaman Alistair Knowles said:
The crew of the Argo were experienced and their craft well-equipped. They did exactly the right thing in calling for assistance from the Coastguard using their radio as soon as they realised that they had a problem. Although a mobile phone may sometimes be useful close inshore, there is no safe substitute for a marine band VHF radio, either fixed in the vessel or a hand portable. We were able to render assistance and bring them back safely to shore without problems. My advice to anyone who enjoys leisure time on the sea is to go prepared for an emergency.
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