4 February @ 21:10

Emergency 'Pan Pan' broadcast received by Belfast Coastguard on Ch 16 requesting assistance to a vessel broken down South of Kircubbin Bay, Strangford Lough.

Portaferry Lifeboat launched to assist.  Portaferry Coastguard shore team dispatched to the area.  Police helicopter also tasked.

Portaferry Lifeboat, coastguard shore teams and a police helicopter searched the waters and shoreline of the area.

Nothing found and search terminated.

Emergency broadcast on Ch 16 now regarded as a malicious hoax.

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station at 22:45

13 February @ 21:35

Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service following a 999 telephone report to HM Coastguard of a male person in the water at Portavogie Harbour.

Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service and Portaferry Coastguard shore team tasked to the area.

Whilst the lifeboat was on passage in rough seas a coastguard team began a search of the harbour area.  On arrival of the lifeboat at Portavogie the crew commenced to search the waters of the harbour.

Nothing found and Portaferry Lifeboat crew and Coastguard teams stood down.

999 call now regarded as a malicious hoax.

Portaferry lifeboat returned to station at 23:25

Report by a member of the public to HM Coastguard of a grey/black object in the Strangford Narrows that could possibly be an up-turned boat.  Object also seen afloat by others in the Strangford Narrows and suspected to be from a pontoon at Cook Street slip at Portaferry.

HM Coastguard requested Portaferry Lifeboat to launch and investigate.

A black pontoon float was located by the Portaferry Lifeboat crew near the Gowland Rocks.

Confirmation received that the float was that missing from a pontoon at Cook Street slip, Portaferry.

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station at 15:20

Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service to search for a 51 year old woman who had been missing for over 24 hours

Crew members previously placed on stand-by earlier in the day.

Irish Coast Guard helicopter 116 tasked from Dublin to assist in the search.

Bangor and Portaferry coastguard rescue teams continued their previous day's search of the shoreline and surrounding land areas of Strangford Lough.

Police and other community services continued to search the area. 

Portaferry Lifeboat crew conducted a sea search of the western, northern and eastern shorelines of Strangford Lough and then began a search of the Strangford Narrows.

Following reports of a siting the coastguard team from Portaferry commenced a search of the Strangford/Castleward area and located the missing woman in a wooded area. After administering first aid the casualty was transferred to hospital by ambulance.

Portaferry Lifeboat was then stood down and returned to station at 18:55.

Portaferry Lifeboat crew paged following reports received by Belfast Coastguard of a motor sailor with engine failure North of Portavogie. Two persons on board.

Casualty vessel located by Portaferry Lifeboat and taken in tow to Portavogie where 2 persons were landed to safety ashore where Coastguards were in attendance.

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station at 17:05.

Belfast Coastguard received reports from a 9m yacht with 2 persons on board that it was hard aground off the entrance to the Quoile River.

Portaferry Lifeboat launched to assist and on arrival with the casualty vessel the lifeboat crew found it to be aground on the Rigg Pladdy.

Following inspection of the hull for damage or ingress of water the lifeboat crew assisted in deploying the yacht's anchor to enable the vessel to be refloated safely on a rising tide.

The yacht's crew reported that they were happy to remain on board to await the rising tide.

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station at 15:50

Belfast Coastguard received a report on Ch16 from a 11.5m yacht with 2 persons on board that it was aground in the Strangford Narrows south of the Cloghy Rocks.

Portaferry Lifeboat crew paged and Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service.

On arrival with the casualty vessel the lifeboat crew inspected the hull for damage and after confirming with the skipper that there was no ingress of water a line was used to pull the yacht into deeper water.  After confirmation that there was still no ingress of water the yacht proceeded on its passage.

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station at 16:25.

Report received by Belfast Coastguard of the sighting of a red distress flare between Kilclief and Portaferry.

Portaferry Lifeboat crew paged and lifeboat launched on service.

After an extensive search of the Strangford Narrows between Portaferry and Ballyhornan by the lifeboat crew and coastguard shore teams nothing was found.

Lifeboat returned to station at 02:45

Portaferry Lifeboat requested to launch to assist in the search for a missing person in the northern area of Strangford Lough.

Lifeboat launched on service and joined a shore search by coastguards, a PSNI helicopter and search dogs.

Missing person located safe and well ashore and lifeboat stood down.

Lifeboat returned to station

999 call received by Belfast Coastguard reporting the possible grounding of 2 yachts on the north end of Pladdy Lug at the entrance to Strangford Lough.

Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service.

Portaferry lifeboat crew arrived in the area and found 2 yachts underway.  Following a discussion between the lifeboat helmsman and one of the yacht skippers it was confirmed that his vessel had grounded for a short period.  

After confirmation that there were no injuries or damage to either vessel Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station at 20:51

Report to Belfast Coastguard of a small sailing dinghy with two persons on board possibly in difficulty in the vicinity of Don O'Neill island, Strangford Lough.

Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service.

On arrival at Don O'Neill island the lifeboat crew found that both occupants of a Topper sailing dinghy were safe ashore on the island and had made their way there due a strong tide.

The occupants of the Topper dinghy accepted the lifeboat helmsman's offer to transport them and their dinghy back to Portaferry from where they had left earlier in the day.

Portaferry lifeboat returned to station where 2 persons were landed to safety ashore.

Request received to launch Portaferry Lifeboat from Belfast Coastguard to search for a missing foot-passenger from the Strangford Ferry.

Portaferry Lifeboat commenced a search of the northern part of the Strangford Narrows whilst a coastguard team commenced a shore search.

Following police enquiries the missing person was found safe and well ashore. The missing foot-passanger had taken a lift home in one of vehicles on board the ferry after the crossing.

Portaferry lifeboat returned to station at 23:10

999 call received by HM Coastguard from a concerned parent reporting that her son and two other boys were ashore on an island on Strangford Lough near Whiterock after their 11ft dory had engine failure and then capsized.

Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service and following information received from Belfast Coastguard proceeded to the north-eastern area of Strangford Lough where three young persons were located safe and well on Calf Island near Whiterock.

Portaferry Lifeboat crew then took the 3 casualties on board the lifeboat with their dory in tow and proceeded to Strangford Lough Yacht Club where they were landed to safety ashore with coastguards in attendance.

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station at 20:05

Request received from Belfast Coastguard to launch Portaferry Lifeboat to assist a 40ft yacht off Dead Man's Rock, Strangford Lough, with a jammed rudder.   9 persons on board.

On arrival of Portaferry Lifeboat with the casualty vessel one of the lifeboat crew entered the water and attempted to free the jammed rudder.

Following unsuccessful attempts to free the rudder the lifeboat then took the yacht under tow to a pontoon at Ringhaddy where the 9 persons on board the yacht were landed to safety ashore and where Portaferry Coastguard rescue team were in attendance to assist..

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station at 1800.

A request to launch Portaferry Lifeboat was received from Belfast Coastguard following a 999 call from one of three kayakers on Strangford Lough reporting that they were in difficulties off Don O'Neill Island after one of them had lost his paddle and had ended up in the water.

Portaferry Lifeboat launched in strong to gale force southerly winds.

Photo:Portaferry RNLI

The lifeboat crew quickly located the 3 male kayakers who were rafted together east of the Limestone Rock.

All three kayakers, who were cold but uninjured, were then taken aboard the lifeboat and along with their kayaks were landed to safety ashore at the Strangford Village pontoon..

Portaferry lifeboat returned to station at 13:20

Report of red flares Flares sighted in the area of the entrance to Strangford Lough.  

Portaferry Lifeboat launched and proceeded to Butter Pladdy and began a search.

Donaghadee Lifeboat which had just completed a service to a fishing vessel off Portavogie joined the search along with the Irish Coast Guard SAR helicopter 116.  HM Coastguard shore teams from Portaferry and Bangor began a shoreline search.  

Following an extensive search of the area nothing was found and all services stood down.

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station at 20:30.

PROVISIONAL REPORT

Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service to assist a small vessel in Strangford Lough reported to have engine problems off Salt Island near Killyleagh. One person on board.

On arrival in the area the lifeboat crew found that the casualty vessel had drifted on to Salt Island where its occupant was safely ashore.

The occupant was taken aboard the lifeboat and with the casualty vessel in tow the occupant was landed to safety ashore at Killyleagh..

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station.