At 12:52 Falmouth Coastguard contacted Falmouths Lifeboat Operations Manager to request Lifeboat assistance for the 36ft Motor Boat Tiger Blue which had reported a serious engine room fire while 5 miles Southeast of Dodman Point. As the two persons onboard were considering abandoning their vessel, both Falmouth All Weather and Inshore Lifeboats were tasked to assist, the Inshore Lifeboat being able to reach the scene first and if required would be able to recover anybody from the water.

The Inshore Lifeboat launched from her slipway at 12:58, and headed around Zone Point and set course for the vessels last known position 13 miles to the east. The All Weather Lifeboat left its pontoon at 13:02 also making best speed. The sail training vessel Providence had responded to the Coastguards VHF call requesting assistance and was standing by the Tiger Blue when the Inshore Lifeboat arrived on scene at 13:30. Two of the Inshore lifeboats crew were put onboard the motor boat and were able to confirm that the fire was out, but that the vessel was completely disabled.

The All Weather Lifeboat arrived on scene at 13:43 and a towline was passed, the vessel requesting to be towed to Falmouth, its original destination. The Inshore Lifeboat continued to escort the lifeboat and tow, until at 14:21 it was decided that the Inshore Lifeboat should be released to return to station. Once a crewman from the All Weather Lifeboat had been transferred to the casualty, the two other lifeboat crewmen were recovered and the Inshore Lifeboat set a course back to Falmouth.

The Inshore Lifeboat was back on its slipway by 15:13 where it was refuelled, and was ready for service by 15:35.

The incident had been caused when the exhaust manifold on one of the vessels engines had sheared off causing hot exhaust fumes to engulf the engine room with the potential for creating a major fire. The skipper had followed good practice, shutting down everything down and preparing to abandon his vessel. His actions certainly saved his vessel and probably the lives of the two people onboard.

An Inshore Lifeboat Service

 

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