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Provisional report

Portaferry Lifeboat Blue Peter V launched on service at the request of Belfast CGOC following the report of an upturned boat in a position East of Pawle Island

Abandoned vessel found at arrival on-scene.

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station.

Portaferry Lifeboat crew paged following the report of a vehicle coming off the Portaferry Road and falling onto the shore.

Lifeboat crew stood down prior to launch.

Photo: Portaferry Coastguard Rescue Team

15 March 2021 @ 10:36

Shout No.3

Portaferry Lifeboat Blue Peter V launched on service to assist a vunerable person - No further information will be available.

30 March 2021 @ 10:37

Shout No.4

Lifeboat Crew paged following a report of a person in difficulties in the water South of the Flood Gates at Newtownards.

Due to insufficient water and an ebbing tide at the casualty location Portaferry Lifeboat launch aborted and lifeboat crew stood down.

Members of Bangor Coastguard Rescue Team attended and gave follow-up advice to a wind surfer.. 

2 April 2021 @ 20:57

Shout No.5

Portaferry Lifeboat Blue Peter V launched on service to assist a vunerable person - No further information will be available.

3 April 2021 @ 11:57

Shout No.6

Portaferry Lifeboat Blue Peter V launched on service following a report of 7 persons (4 adults & 3 children) stranded on Guns Island due to the rising tide.

On arrival of Portaferry Lifeboat on scene Newcastle and Portaferry Coastguard Rescue Teams were in attendance at Ballyhornan beach and 2 members from the Portaferry Coastguard Rescue Team had made their way on to Guns Island in water rescue equipment.

All persons taken to safety ashore at Ballyhornan Beach where coastguard teams were in attendance.

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station.

Photo credit: Newcastle Coastguard

Portaferry Lifeboat Blue Peter V launched on service to assist a yacht with engine failure located at the Strangford Bar. (the entrance to Strangford Lough).

On arrival with the casualty vessel it was taken under tow to Portaferry Marina.

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station.

Portaferry Lifeboat Blue Peter V launched on service at the request of Belfast CGOC following a report of 2 persons stranded on Kirkistown Spit.

HM Coastguard Rescue teams from Bangor and Portaferry tasked. Coastguard SAR Helicopter Rescue 199 from Prestwick also tasked.

On arrival of the Portaferry and Bangor Coastguard Rescue Teams it was discovered that 2 persons were cut off by the rising tide and the female casualty was chest high in the water. Coastguards entered the water and assisted both persons ashore where a NIAS paramedic and NIAS ambulance crews were in attendance.  Following medical checks both persons did not require further assistance.

Portaferry Lifeboat, which had arrived on-scene, stood by until it was ascertained that all persons were safely ashore and no other persons required assistance. CG SAR helicopter R199 on passage from Prestwick to the location was stood down.

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station

15 May 2021 @ 17:22

Shout No.9

Portaferry Lifeboat Blue Peter V launched on service to assist a broken down jet ski off Killyleagh.

Casualty vessel located and taken under tow to the Killyleagh Yacht Club pontoon.

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station.

25 May 2021 @ 23:10

Shout No.10

Portaferry Lifeboat Blue Peter V launched on service at the request of Belfast CGOC following a request for assistance from a yacht in a reported position North of the Strangford Lough fairway bouy. Vessels navigation lights inoperative. 2 persons on board.

Yacht quickly located by the lifeboat crew and taken under tow to Portaferry Marina where 2 persons were landed to safety ashore with members of Portaferry Coastguard Rescue Team in attendance.

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station

26 May 2021 @ 17:56

Shout No.11

Portaferry Lifeboat Blue Peter V launched on service at the request of Belfast CGOC following a request for assistance from a speedboat with engine failure. Vessel at anchor off Dunsy Island, Strangford Lough. 4 persons on board.

Portaferry Lifeboat arrived on scene with the casulty vessel which was then taken under tow to Whiterock where 2 adults and 2 children were landed to safety ashore.

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station

30 May 2021 @ 06:54

Shout No.12

Portaferry Lifeboat Blue Peter V launched on service at the request of Belfast CGOC following the report of an angler falling off the seaward side of the harbour wall at Ardglass and requiring medical assistance.

Newcastle and Kilkeel Coastguard Search and Rescue Teams tasked.  Fire and Rescue services from Downpatrick and Belfast tasked.

Portaferry Lifeboat arrived on scene and stood by for safety cover whilst the angler was recovered by specialist NIFRS and Coastguard rope rescue teams.  Casualty transferred into the care of the NI Ambulance Service.

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station.

Photo credit: Newcastle CRT

Photo credit: Newcastle CRT

Photo credit: Newcastle CRT

7 June 2021@ 16:01

Shout No.13

22 June 2021 @ 12:44

Shout No.14

26 June 2021 @ 09:49

Shout No.15

4 July 2021 @ 21:03

Shout No.16

Infromation to follow

16 July 2021 @ 18:59

Shout No.17

Portaferry Lifeboat 'Blue Peter V' tasked by Belfast CGOC to the assistance of a fishing vessel aground off Portavogie, County Down..

On arrival of the Portaferry Lifeboat on scene, the casualty vessel was found to be hard aground on the ebb tide and the crew had been taken ashore to safety by a local fishing vessel.

Photo credit: George Toma

Belfast CGOC requested the Portaferry Lifeboat crew to assess the situation around the casualty vessel to ensure there was no pollution from any fuel/oil spill.

Following an inspection of the immediate area around the casualty vessel no spillage was found.

Portaferry Lifeboat stood down by Belfast CGOC and returned to station.

21 July 2021 @ 12:47

Shout No.18

Portaferry Lifeboat Blue Peter V launched on service at the request of Belfast CGOC to assist a leisure boat in the Strangford Narrows with engine failure drifting seaward past the Portaferry Marina. Two persons on board.

On arrival with the casualty vessel the lifeboat crew established a towline and the vessel was taken under tow to Portaferry Marina where 2 persons were landed to safety ashore.

Photo credit: Marine Traffic

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station..  

22 July 2021 @ 21:11

Shout No.19

Information to follow

24 July 2021 @ 11:28

Shout No.20

Preliminary information:

Tasked to capsized canoe off Kearney Point with three persons in the water.

All persons reported safely ashore and lifeboat stood down whilst ln passage.

2 August @ 19:31

Shout No.21

Portaferry Lifeboat Blue Peter V requested to launch at the request of Belfast CGOC to assist an injured person aboard a 30ft yacht at Killyleagh.

Bangor and Portaferry Coastguard rescue teams also tasked.

On arrival with the casualty vessel the lifeboat crew discovered that the person had sustained back and other injuries. Coastguard rescue teams also in attendance. Casualty care including oxygen was provided by the lifeboat crew until the arrival of a NIAS ambulance at 20:15.

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station

4 August @ 15:17

Shout No.22

Portaferry Lifeboat Blue Peter V launched on service at the request of Belfast CGOG following the report of a paddleboarder being blown out to sea off Ballyhalbert due to a strong off-shore breeze.

On arrival of the lifeboat off Ballyhalbert the lifeboat crew found that a local fishing vessel had located the paddleboarder and was awaiting the arrival of the lifeboat. The paddleboarder was then transferred onboard the lifeboat and taken to safety at Ballyhalbert Harbour where a Portaferry Coastguard Rescue Team was in attendance.

Photo credit: Marine Traffic

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station.

10 August @ 18:51

Shout No.23

Portaferry Lifeboat deputy launching authority (DLA) observed a 7m yacht adrift in the Strangford Narrows on the ebb tide.

Following an alert to Belfast CGOC, Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service.

Casualty vessel quickly located by the lifeboat crew off Granagh Bay in the Strangford Narrows and taken under tow to the Cook Street pontoon in Portaferry.

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station.

Photo credit: Marine Traffic

16 August @ 16:56

Shout No.24

Preliminary information.

Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service following a RHIB reporting engine failure off Green Island.

RHIB located and and taken under tow to Whiterock

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station

20 August @ 11:56

Shout No.25

Portaferry Lifeboat launched on service at the request of Belfast CGOC following the report of a person in the water at Kircubbin.

On arrival at the casualty position in Kircubbin Bay off Monaghan Bank the person was safely ashore and in the care of coastguards.

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station

25 August @ 20:28

Shout No.26

Portaferry Lifeboat Blue Peter V launched on service at the request of Belfast CGOC following the report of 2 kayakers thought to be in difficulty off Kiclief.

Portaferry Lifeboat crew conducted a search of the area off Kilclief, outwards to the Strangford Fairway Buoy and of the immedate area in the Strangford Narrows.

Nothing found and Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station.

26 August @ 17:40

Shout No.27

Portaferry Lifeboat Blue Peter V launched on service at the request of Belfast CGOC following the report by a member of the public of 3 persons in the water after their small punt had capsized..

All persons recovered from the water by the lifeboat crew off the Walter Rocks and taken to safety ashore at Portaferry Quay where a Portaferry Coastguard rescue team was in attendance.

Portaferry Lifeboat then proceeded to retrieve the upturned punt which was located off Bankmore and after righting it was taken under tow to Cook Street Quay.

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station.

1 Sept 2021 @ 0644

Shout No.28

Information to follow

8 Sept 2021 @ 11:07

Shout No.29

Portaferry Lifeboat Blue Peter V launched on service at the request of Belfast CGOC following a Pan Pan request for assistance from a 9m RHIB in a position 1nm West of St John's Point which reported taking on water. 2 persons on board.

Newcastle Lifeboat also launched on service to assist.

On arrival of the Portaferry Lifeboat with the casualty vessel the 2 crew on board the casualty vessel were found to be safe and well and already using their own salvage pump.  

Following the transfer of an additional salvage pump by the lifeboat crew from the Portaferry Lifeboat it was found that the vessel's own salvage pump was coping well with the ingress of water.

Newcastle Lifeboat on passage to the incident was stood down.

Photo: courtesy of Chris Feenagh

Portaferry Lifeboat subsequently escorted the casualty vessel to safety at Ardglass Harbour where a Newcastle Coastguard rescue team was in attendance to assist.

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station.

16 Sept 2021 @ 18:00

Shout No.30

Portaferry Lifeboat Blue Peter V launched on service at the request of Belfast CGOC following a request for assistance from a 9m cabin cruiser 1nm East of Gunn's Island in danger of sinking. One person on board.

Newcastle Lifeboat also launched on service.

On arrival on-scene of the Portaferry Lifeboat the lifeboat crew discovered that the casualty vessel's occupant had abondoned his vessel after deploying his liferaft and was safely aboard a nearby motor vessel. The casualty vessel was found to partially submerged and in a spin.

After receiving casualty care the casualty was taken by the lifeboat to safety ashore at Ardglass Harbour where a Portaferry Coastguard rescue team was in attendance.

On arrival on-scene of the Newcastle Lifeboat the crew deployed a salvage pump and established an along-side tow. The lifeboat then proceeded towards the calmer waters at the entrance to Strangford Lough where crew members went on board the casualty vessel to access the extent of the flooding. The casualty vessel was then taken to Strangford Harbour where a Portaferry Coastguard rescue team was in attendance and a temporary pollution boom was established by harbour officials.

Photo: Portaferry Coastguard Rescue Team

Newcastle and Portaferry lifeboats returned to their stations.

18 Sept 2021 @ 14:00

Shout No.31

Information to follow when available

5 Oct 2021 @ 15:16

Shout No.32

Portaferry Lifeboat Blue Peter V launched on service at the request of Belfast CGOC following the report of a paddleboarder in difficulty at Guns Island.

On arrival on scene at Guns Island a lifeboat crew member was put ashore where the paddleboarder was found to be showing signs of mild hypothermia after being in the water for some time.

The casualty was placed on board the lifeboat and taken to safety ashore at Ballyhornan where a Portaferry Coastguard rescue team was in attendance.

Portaferry Lifeboat returned to station

11 Oct 2021 @ 09:41

Shout No.33

2 Nov 2021 @ 14:47

Shout No. 34

6 Nov 2021 @ 15:57

Shout No. 35

Portaferry Lifeboat Blue Peter V launched on service at the request of Belfast CGOC to assist 2 kayakers in difficulty off Trasnagh Island, near Ballydornan, Strangford Lough.

On arrival of the lifeboat off Trasnagh Island both kayakers were found to be safely ashore on the western side of the island.  A lifeboat crew member was put ashore to assist both kayakers on board the lifeboat.

Both kayakers and their kakaks were landed ashore at Whiterock where a Portaferry Coastguard rescue team was in attendance.

7 Nov 2021 @ 13:31

Shout No.36