'Mayday' call received by Belfast Coastguard from the 58ft fishing vessel 'Karen' located on rocks at Phennick Point near the entrance to Ardglass Harbour, taking in water with 4 persons on board.

Portaferry Lifeboat, 'Blue Peter V', launched on service to assist.

Coastguard teams tasked to Ardglass. Irish Coast Guard search and rescue helicopter also tasked to the area.

Portaferry Lifeboat arrived on scene with the casualty vessel and took 4 persons on board.

Irish Coast Guard SAR helicopter then stood down.

Portaferry Lifeboat proceeded to Ardglass Marina where 4 persons were landed to safety ashore into the care of awaiting paramedics and coastguards. One person transferred by ambulance to Downpatrick Hospital.

FV 'Karen' later refloated on a rising tide and taken to shelter in Ardglass Harbour with the assistance of another fishing vessel.

HM Coastguard requested launch of Portaferry Lifeboat as the result of an emergency signal received via satellite from an EPIRB, indicating a distress position in the northern area of Strangford Lough.

Following an extensive search of Strangford Lough over several hours by the lifeboat crew and on the shoreline by coastguard teams, no vessel or persons were found and the lifeboat was released from the search and returned to the Lifeboat Station.

HM Coastguard requested the launch of Portaferry Lifeboat to assist a small vessel near the entrance to Strangford Lough with engine difficulties, in strong winds and choppy seas. One adult male on board.

Flare fired from casualty vessel and casualty quickly located.

Casualty vessel taken under tow by the lifeboat to Strangford harbour where one adult male was landed to safety ashore.

HM Coastguard requested launch of Portaferry Lifeboat following reports by a person ashore of a small dinghy with one person on board in difficulty off Killyleagh, Co. Down.

Portaferry Lifeboat, 'Blue Peter V', launched on service and arrived off Killyleagh and took one adult male on board from a dinghy in danger of sinking and landed him to safey ashore at Killyleagh Quay.

HM Coastguard received 999 call from a member of the public reporting a cabin cruiser with 4 persons on board drifting on an ebb tide in the Strangford Lough 'Narrows' towards the Irish Sea.

Portaferry Lifeboat, 'Blue Peter V', launched on service and quickly located the casualty vessel South of Portaferry.

Vessel then taken under tow by the lifeboat to the Cooke Street pier, Portaferry and 4 persons landed to safety ashore into the care of awaiting coastguards.

17 April 2011 @20:30

HM Coastguard received a 999 call from a member of the public reporting a cabin cruiser with 2 persons on board close to rocks in the Strangford 'Narrows'.

Portaferry Lifeboat, 'Blue Peter V', launched on service and quickly located the casualty vessel. Casualty was the same vessel rescued by the Portaferry Lifeboat the previous day.

Vessel taken under tow to Strangford Quay where 2 persons were landed to safety ashore.

Urgency message received by HM Coastguard from the 40 ft ketch 'Vivacity' located off the 'Strangford Bar' with loss of steering, in rough seas and in danger of being driven ashore, 2 adults and 4 children on board.

Newcastle all weather lifeboat, the 'Eleanor and Bryant Girling', on passage to Newcastle Lifeboat Station following an exercise in Strangford Lough, alerted by HM Coastguard and diverted to assist.

Portaferry Lifeboat, 'Blue Peter V', launched.

Newcastle Lifeboat arrived on scene with the casualty vessel followed shortly afterwards by the Portaferry Lifeboat.

Casualty vessel located approx 2 cables off 'St Patrick's Rock' in force 6 easterly winds and 3 metre high confused seas.

Newcastle Lifeboat transferred the deputy coxswain on board the badly heaving ketch in difficult sea conditions. A tow line was eventually established between the Newcastle Lifeboat and the casualty vessel.

Due to the loss of the casualty vessel's steerage resulting in heavy sheering whilst under tow, an attempt was made by Portaferry Lifeboat to transfer a crew member onto the casualty vessel to establish a stern line. Due to the heavy pitching and rolling of both vessels the attempt had to be aborted until the Newcastle Lifeboat had towed the casualty vessel into slightly calmer waters of the Strangford Lough 'Narrows'.

A crew member of Portaferry Lifeboat was then put aboard the casualty vessel and a stern line established for better steerage whilst the casualty was under tow by the Newcastle Lifeboat.

Newcastle and Portaferry lifeboats arrived off Portaferry and the casualty vessel was secured alongside the Newcastle Lifeboat and taken into Portaferry Marina where 2 adults and 4 children were landed to safety ashore.

During Portaferry Lifeboat station's 'Open Day' a phone call was received by the Lifeboat Operations Manager from Belfast Coastguard reporting concern over the safety of 2 kayakers who had left Portaferry several hours earlier in the day and had not returned.

Portaferry Lifeboat, 'Blue Peter V', was launched and began a search from Portaferry to Round Island on the eastern side of Strangford Lough and from Pawle Island to Salt Island on the western side.

Approximately 45 minutes after the launch, Belfast Coastguard reported that the 2 kayakers had been located safe & well ashore at Newtownards Sailing Club and the lifeboat then returned to station.

999 mobile call received by Belfast Coastguard from a 17ft yacht with engine difficulties in Black Boat Bay, Strangford Lough, with one person on board.

Lifeboat launched and took casualty vessel under tow to Portaferry Marina where one person was landed to safety ashore.

Belfast Coastguard requested assistance following reports by police of a person in the water close to the Lifeboat Station.

Crew members recovered one adult male (who appeared to be intoxicated) and assisted him ashore at the ferry quay steps. Casualty given first aid until the arrival of ambulance with paramedics.

999 mobile call received by Belfast Coastguard from an adult male reporting that he and another person were aboard a 2 metre tender that had broken down and was drifting in strong winds off Trasnagh Island, Strangford Lough.

Portaferry Lifeboat, 'Blue Peter V', launched and located the casualty vessel and occupants ashore on Trasnagh Island.

Occupants taken on board the lifeboat and transported with the tender in tow to Strangford Lough Yacht Club where two persons were landed to safety ashore.

Lifeboat returned to station.

Belfast Coastguard requested launch as the result of a 999 call reporting 2 young men in a 2 metre inflatable at Cook Street quay, Portaferry, acting in such a manner as to endanger themselves.

Prior to launch the lifeboat crew were stood down by Belfast Coastguard

Several members of Portaferry Lifeboat crew were training at the lifeboat station when the Lifeboat Operations Mananger received a request from Belfast Coastguard to assist the 34 ft MV 'Flying Fox' with 4 paersons on board reporting engine failure approximately 4 miles ESE off the entrance to Strangford Lough.

Portaferry Lifeboat, 'Blue Peter V', was launched on service and proceeded to the reported position to assist the casualty vessel.

On arrival on scene the casualty vessel's engines had been restarted and the lifeboat then stood by to escort the casualty into Strangford Lough. Shortly afterwards the casualty vessel's engines failed once again and with the weather deteriorating a tow line was established between both vessels.

The casualty vessel was then towed into the calmer waters of the Strangford Narrows and off Portaferry the vessel's engines were restarted again. The lifeboat then assisted the casualty vessel into Portaferry Marina where 4 persons were landed to safety ashore.

Portaferry Lifeboat then returned to station

Belfast Coastguard requested launch of lifeboat after being alerted by police about three campers on Gunns Island reporting that they were being harassed by a herd of cattle and had taken refuge on some rocks on the northern part of the island.

Portaferry Lifeboat, Blue Peter V, launched on service and on arrival at Gunns Island fired a white parachute flare to assist the 3 male campers in retrieving some of their property and camping equipment that they had abandoned when harassed by the cattle.

Three adult males taken ashore to safety on the mainland and Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station.

Belfast Coastguard requested launch of lifeboat following 999 call reporting 3 children swimming between Gunns Island and Ballyhornan and without lifejackets.

Portaferry Lifeboat requested to proceed to the area and on arrival found that no-one was in difficulty.   Lifeboat returned to station.

Belfast Coastguard received 999 call from a person reporting that they had lost sight of 2 males who were swimming off Newtownards Sailing Club, Strangford Lough.

Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service and proceeded to the area.  Police helicopter also tasked.

Whilst on passage Belfast Coastguard reported that one of the swimmers was safely ashore but the second swimmer was still missing.

Police helicopter arrived over the search area and located the 2nd swimmer close to the shoreline and dropped a strobe light to guide the lifeboat to the casualty.  

Just prior to the arrival of the lifeboat in the search area the 2nd swimmer was able to make his own way ashore and the lifeboat returned to station.

Belfast Coastguard requested launch of Portaferry RNLI Lifeboat following reports that an adult male was missing whilst on passage in his 28ft yacht from Peel, Isle of Man, to Ardglass, County Down. The brother of the yachtsman had been unable to regain mobile phone contact with him for several hours after the yachtsman had reported experiencing difficult tidal conditions.  No responses to subsequent coastguard VHF calls on CH 16 to the vessel.

Portaferry Lifeboat, Blue Peter V, was launched and tasked to search Strangford Lough and its Irish Sea approaches.

Port Erin and Port St Mary lifeboats on the Isle of Man tasked to search the southern and western waters around and off the Isle of Man.   SAR helicopter tasked.

Bangor and South Down Coastguard teams tasked to search the harbours and shoreline of County Down.  Coastguards on the Isle of Man tasked to search harbours and coastline .

Following an extensive search by Portaferry Lifeboat lasting over 4 hours, nothing was found and the lifeboat was stood down and returned to station.

Note: Following the detection of in-service signals from the yachtsman's mobile phone it was determined that the missing vessel was still in the vicinity of the Isle of Man.  The yachtsman was eventually located safe and well several miles off Niarbyl Bay, Isle of Man, by the Port Erin lifeboat.

Urgency message received by HM Coastguard from a 36 ft yacht between Conly Island and Bradock Island, Strangford Lough, fouled propellor and keel from a mooring line, 2 persons on board.

Portaferry Lifeboat launched and on arrival with the casualty vessel secured a tow line and assisted in freeing the yacht from its entanglement in the mooring.  

Portaferry Lifeboat then returned to station.

Urgency message received by Belfast Coastguard from the 8m yacht 'Hilare', located west of the Slave Rock, Strangford Lough, sheet rope caught around propellor, 1 person on board.   Vessel unable to make way under power or sail.

Portaferry Lifeboat launched and proceeded to the casualty position.

On arrival two lifeboat crew members were put on board the casualty vessel and joined the sole occupant at the vessel's bow to raise the vessel's stern.   A third lifeboat crew member then entered the water and removed the entangled rope from the propellor.

After checks, the casualty vessel was able to continue on its passage and the lifeboat returned to station.

Belfast Coastguard received a VHF radio call on CH 16 from the yacht 'Seven Seas of Arne' reporting engine failure 0.5 miles ESE of the Strangford Fairway Buoy.   Two persons on board.

Portaferry Lifeboat launched and proceeded to the casualty position.

Tow line established and casualty vessel taken under tow to Portaferry Marina where 2 adults were landed to safety ashore.  

Lifeboat then returned to station.

Reports received by Belfast Coastguard of the sighting of what appeared to be a red flare in the vicinity of the Strangford Narrows.

Portaferry Lifeboat launched to search the area.   Nothing found and lifeboat returned to station.

HM Coastguard informed by a member of the public that there was a person in the water at the Floodgates, near Newtownards, Strangford Lough.

Portaferry Lifeboat launched and proceeded to the search area.  Police helicopter and coastguard teams tasked to the area.

Coastguards identified the casualty as a angler who was not in difficulty.

Lifeboat released from the search and returned to Station.

26 Sept 2011 @ 16:39

Belfast Coastguard advised via Cospas-Sarsat rescue co-ordination centre that a signal had been received via satellite from an EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) belonging to the fishing vessel Islander.  In addition, reports were received of distress flares being sighted in the area between the entrance to Strangford Lough and Ardglass, County Down.

Portaferry Lifeboat launched and proceeded to the search area.

Prior to the arrival of the lifeboat a fishing vessel in the area located a life-raft with 2 male occupants on board who reported that their fishing vessel had capsized and sank whilst hauling fishing gear.  Both fishermen were taken aboard the rescuing fishing vessel and landed ashore in Ardglass harbour.

After ascertaining that all persons on board the Islander were safely ashore and that no other persons were missing, Portaferry Lifeboat returned to the search area where the casualty vessel had sunk and recovered an active EPIRB and some larger pieces of debris.  The lifeboat then proceeded to Ardglass harbour where the EPIRB was taken ashore and de-activated. 

Portaferry Lifeboat then returned to station.

Liverpool Coastguard monitoring VHF Channel 16 heard a MAYDAY call from the skipper of a fishing vessel reporting that it was aground off the entrance to Ardglass Harbour and taking in water.  Four persons on board.

Belfast Coastguard requested the immediate launch of Portaferry Lifeboat.

The skipper and 3 crew of the fishing vessel took to their liferaft.

Portaferry Lifeboat arrived off Ardglass Harbour and found that a fishing vessel, the 'Three Tokens', had just recovered the skipper and 3 crew from the the casualty vessel's liferaft.

Portaferry Lifeboat took the liferaft in tow and followed the 'Three Tokens' into Ardglass Harbour where four persons were landed to safety ashore.

At the request of Belfast Coastguard, Portaferry Lifeboat proceeded again to the casualty vessel's position to assess the damage to the hull and for any signs of pollution.

Portaferry Lifeboat was then released from service and returned to station.

Note: The casualty fishing vessel was successfully refloated a few hours later and taken to Ardglass Harbour for a hull inspection.

999 calls received from 'coasteering' group by Belfast Coastguard reporting 3 persons in the water in difficulty at Portnacoo, south of Gunns Island, Ballyhornan Bay, County Down.

Portaferry lifeboat, Blue Peter V, requested to launch and assist.  

Because of the poor weather conditions, Newcastle all-weather lifeboat also launched on service.

Irish Coast Guard helicopter tasked to the area.

South Down Coastguard shore team tasked to the area.

Portaferry Lifeboat arrived off Portnacoo and observed casualties being carried on to rocks in F6/7 strong south-west winds and 5m high rough seas.  Observations relayed to Coastguard shore team who were able to give assistance in bringing the casualties safely ashore.

Irish Coast Guard helicopter landed and one person examined by the on-board paramedic

All three casualties reported safe and well

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station