23 January 2018 @ 17:32
No. 1

Preliminary report

Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service following reports of an adult male being stranded on the flood tide whilst metal detecting on Gibbs Island, Strangford Lough.

On arrival at Gibbs Island the lifeboat crew transferred the male casualty to safety on Midge Island.

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station at 18:20

30 January 2018 @ 20:26
No. 2

Preliminary Report

4 persons reported overdue in a 16ft punt having left Whiterock, Strangford Lough, earlier in the day.

At the request of Belfast CGOC Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service.

The lifeboat crew were preparing to commence a search pattern from Whiterock to Ringhaddy when the 4 missing persons were located safe and well on Trasnagh Island following their craft running aground due to engine problems.

4 persons taken to safety at Whiterock were coastguards were in attendance.

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station

6 March 2018 @ 15:06
No. 3

Preliminary report

Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service following reports of a woman stranded with her dog on Rough Island, Strangford Lough, due to the incoming tide covering the access causeway.

On arrival off Rough Island the crew of the lifeboat took the casualty and her dog onboard the lifeboat and transported them to safety ashore where a Bangor Coastguard team were in attendance.

Portaferry Lifeboat then returned to station.

Photo: Portaferry RNLI

7 March 2018 @ 20:10
No. 4

Provisional report

Portaferry Lifeboat launched following reports of the sighting of distress flares near Ardglass.

Search carried out by Portaferry Lifeboat crew between Gunns Island and Ardglass and shoreline searches conducted by Newcastle and Portaferry coastguard teams.

Nothing found and following reports to coastguards that youths had been firing what appeared to be fireworks from a play park in Ardglass, Portaferry Lifeboat was stood down and returned to station.

9 March 2018 @ 12:29
No. 5

Provisional report

Portaferry Lifeboat launched following a report of a small craft in difficulty in the Strangford Narrows.

Lifeboat crew located a small vessel with two persons on board who did not require assistance,

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station

12 March 2018 @ 15:49
No. 6

Provisional report

Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service at the request of Belfast Coastguard following a request for assistance from a 13m yacht off Cloughey with engine problems whilst on passage from Bangor to Ardglass.  One adult male with his dog on board.

Photo: Portaferry RNLI

On arrival with the casualty vessel a lifeboat crew member was put on board to assist in securing a tow-line.

Casualty vessel was then taken under tow to Strangford where one person and his dog were landed to safety ashore.

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station at 18:00

31 March 2018 @ 00:53
No. 7

Provisional information.

Portaferry Lifeboat launched at the request of Belfast CGOC to assist in the search of a vunerable person on the eastern shoreline of Strangford Lough near Greyabbey.

Extensive searches conducted by mulit-agency services including police, coastguards from Portaferry and Bangor, a SAR helicopter R199 from Prestwick, the Community Rescue Service and Portaferry Lifeboat.

Nothing found and Portaferry Lifeboat stood down and returned to station at 03:40

Note: The vunerable person was located safe ashore later in the day

11 April 2018 @ 14:27
No. 8

Provisional report

Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service following a request by Belfast CGOC to assist a 18ft yacht 2nm off the Strangford Bar that was reported to be in difficulty.  One adult male on board.

Photo: Portaferry RNLI

On arrival with the casualty vessel the sea conditions were challenging in the fresh easterly winds. It was decided that establishing a tow at that time into the Strangford Narrows was unsafe and a lifeboat crew member was put on board the yacht to assist in sailing the vessel towards Ardglass.

Due to the on-shore sea conditions the helm of the Portaferry Lifeboat requested the assistance of Newcastle all-weather lifeboat when entering the harbour at Ardglass with the casualty vessel under tow.

The casualty vessel was then taken to Ardglass Marina where one person was landed to safety ashore with a Newcastle Coastguard team in attendance.

Portaferry and Newcastle lifeboats then returned to their stations.

28 May 2018 @ 15:29
No. 9

Provisional report

Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service following several 999 calls to HM Coastguard reporting small dinghy drifting seaward in the Strangford Narrows and close to the tidal turbine.  Two persons on board.

Photo: Portaferry RNLI

Lifeboat quickly located the casualty vessel which had developed engine problems and took it under tow to Ringhaddy where two adults were landed to safety ashore.

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station

30 May 2018 @ 07:26
No. 10

Initial report

Mayday call received by Belfast CGOC from a yacht at the entrance to Strangford Lough reporting a fouled propellor.

Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service.

Yacht was able to free fouled propellor and then proceeded on passage.

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station.

4 June 2018 @ 10:55
No. 11

Provisional report

Belfast CGOC received report of a swimmer off Newtownards Yacht Club, Strangford Lough, in possible difficulties.

Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service.

Belfast and Portaferry Coastguard Rescue Teams also tasked to the area.

Sea and shore area searched and nothing found. Swimmer later confirmed safe ashore.  

False alarm with good intent

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station

3 July 2018 @ 01:25
No. 12

Provisional report

Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service following a report of a female with a leg injury requiring assistance on Ballyhornan beach.  Newcastle and Portaferry coastguard shore rescue teams also tasked.

Casualty located and first aid given.

Casualty escorted by coastguard shore team to nearby family home

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station

16 July 2018 @ 19:50
No. 13

Report of person in the water south of the flood gates in Strangford Lough near Newtownards

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

On the arrival of the coastguard shore rescue team it was ascertained that the person was safe and well.

Report was a false alarm with good intent.

Portaferry Lifeboat was stood down and returned to station.

NOTE: Never hesitate to DIAL 999 and ask for the COASTGUARD if you suspect anyone is in danger in the water - you could save a life.

20 July 2018 @ 12:35
No. 14

Provisional report

Belfast CGOC received a report of a small boat drifting in Cloughey Bay

Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service and Portaferry Coastguard Rescue Team tasked.

On arrival of Portaferry CRT at Cloughey it was ascertained by the shore team that the vessel did not require assistance.

Portaferry Lifeboat, whilst still on passage to Cloughey Bay, was stood down and returned to station.

11 August 2018 @ 15:17
No. 15

Provisional report

Belfast CGOC received a report from persons ashore on Guns Island that they were stranded following damage to their small boat.

Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service and on arrival at Guns Island 2 persons and their dog were taken to safety ashore at Ballyhornan beach where coastguard teams from Bangor, Newcastle and Portaferry were in attendance.

Photo: Portaferry RNLI

Coastguards assisting 2 persons ashore

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station.

18 August 2018 @ 13:12
No. 16

Provisional Report

Signals from an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) detected by the SARSAT satellite system and relayed to the National Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre indicating a position in Strangford Lough in the proximity of Don O'Neill Island.

Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service at the request of Belfast CGOC.  Portaferry Coastguard Rescue Team tasked to the Marlfield Bay area with direction finding equipment.

Following an extensive search of the area nothing was found and Portaferry Lifeboat returned to Station.

18 August 2018 @ 20:49
No. 17

Provisional report

Signals received again from an EPIRB indicating an emergency position off East Down Yacht Club, Strangford Lough.

Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service at the request of Belfast CGOC. Portaferry Coastguard Rescue Team tasked to the area with direction finding equipment.  Rescue helicopter R199 tasked.

Following an extensive search of the area by the emergency services lasting over 3 hours nothing was found and Portaferry Lifeboat was stood down and returned to Station.

8 Sept 2018 @ 17:22
No. 18

Provisional report

Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service following the report of a small fishing vessel aground at the Gowland Rocks, Strangford Lough.  Portaferry Coastguard Rescue Team also tasked to the area.

On the arrival of Portaferry Lifeboat with the casualty vessel the lifeboat crew ascertained that the sole male person on board did not require assistance and wished to remain with the vessel until it refloated on the flood tide.

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station.

Vessel successfully refloated on the flood tide,

Photo: Portaferry Coastguard Rescue Team

9 Sept 2018 @ 0317
No. 19

Portaferry Lifeboat requested to launch by Belfast CGOC to assist Newcastle All-Weather Lifeboat lifeboat and Newcastle & Kilkeel Coastguard Rescue Teams following a mayday call received from a yacht which had grounded on rocks off Phennick Point near Ardglass, County Down.

Due to the dangerous half-tide rocks and some fishing gear off Pennwick Point the Newcastle Lifeboat was unable to get close enough inshore to safely take off the sole male sailor and requested the assistance of Portaferry Lifeboat which had a shallower draft.

The yacht hard aground on the ebb tide following the rescue

Photo: Newcastle RNLI

On the arrival on scene of Portaferry Lifeboat the helmsman was able manoeuvre the lifeboat through the breaking seas and successfully took off the lone sailor.

Portaferry Lifeboat then proceeded to Ardglass Marina and landed the sailor to safety ashore where coastguards were in attendance.

Following the rescue the yacht was now hard aground on the ebbing tide and Newcastle and Portaferry lifeboats were stood down and returned to station.  

An Irish Coast Guard Rescue Helicopter on passage to assist was also stood down. 

Newcastle & Kilkeel Coastguard Rescue teams stood down

Later in the day Newcastle Lifeboat returned to the casualty vessel and on the flood tide was successful in refloating the yacht off the rocks and taking the casualty vessel under tow to Ardglass Marina.

Newcastle Lifeboat assisting in refloating the yacht on the flood tide
(Note the dangerous breaking seas on the half-tide rocks)

Photo: Newcastle RNLI

15 Sept 2018 @ 16:47
No. 20

Report of a person falling from a jet-ski off Ballyhenry Island, Strangford Lough.and struggling to re-board.

Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service and on arrival located the male casualty and another male colleague who had swam out to assist his friend,

Both men were taken on board the lifeboat and landed to safety ashore at Cooke Street Quay, Portaferry, where a Portaferry Coastguard team was in attendance.

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station.

16 Sept 2018 @ 08:42
No. 21

Belfast CGOC received a report of a person in the water off Ardglass Golf Club course.

Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service and a 'Mayday Relay' call requesting assistance issued by Belfast CGOC.

Prior to the arrival of the lifeboat at Ardglass a local boat had gone to the aid of the male casualty who had been fishing on the rocks and had slipped and fallen into the water. The casualty had then been taken to Ardglass Marina.

Portaferry Lifeboat crew gave medical assistance at Ardglass Marina awaiting the arrival of a NIAS ambulance that then transported the casualty to hospital.

28 Sept 2018 @ 17:23
No. 22

Provisional Report

RHIB at Angus Rock in difficulty with 7 persons on board

Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service and on arrival took the casualty vessel under tow to Strangford where 7 persons were landed to safety ashore.

30 Sept 2018 @ 17:32
No. 23

Provisional Report

Yacht reported drifting in Blackboat Bay.  

Yacht taken under tow to Strangford

20 Nov 2018 @ 21:27
No 24

Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service to assist Portaferry and Bangor Coastguard teams and the PSNI in the search for a person at risk.

Person located in a place of safety.

Lifeboat stood down and returned to station