Arklow RNLI new and retiring lifeboats respond to emergency beacon
On Friday (26 June) at 9.15 pm, Arklow RNLI’s new all-weather lifeboat, RNLB Roy Holloway, was launched following a Coast Guard pager alert reporting the activation of an EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) in the Arklow area.
The lifeboat proceeded at full speed to the reported location and began a thorough search. Despite an extensive effort, no vessel in distress or person in the water was found.
As daylight faded and no casualty was located, the volunteer crew deployed direction-finding equipment to help trace the beacon’s signal. Additional crew members were positioned around the harbour and along nearby beaches to assist with the search. Lifeboat crew members also boarded Ger Tigchelaar, Arklow’s retiring lifeboat, which had returned to port earlier that day. Using its direction-finding equipment, along with equipment on Windcat 2, the teams successfully triangulated the signals from all three sources and located the EPIRB inside a secured compound within the harbour. Irish Coast Guard Rescue crews were also involved in the operation.
Following the callout, Mark Corcoran, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer, said:
'This callout was bittersweet for all of us at Arklow RNLI. It was an unexpected but fitting moment to see our retired lifeboat Ger T play a part in assisting this search. Thankfully, the incident turned out to be a false alarm.'
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RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact Mark Corcoran, Arklow RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 0868260439, email [email protected] or contact Nuala McAloon RNLI Press Officer on 087 648 3547 or email [email protected] or Niamh Stephenson RNLI Public Relations Manager on 087 1254 124 or 01 8900 460 email [email protected]
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,700 lives.
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