Services Reports 2020

Service Call 30

31st July @ 09:34 AWB launched to a barge with engine failure at risk of drifting into the Southern Breakwater. A Wind Farm vessel reached the casualty before it hit the breakwater and towed it into the outer harbour, until the Lifeboat arrived. The AWB then took over the tow, allowing the Wind Farm vessel to continue out to carry on with its work. The AWB then towed the casualty into Ramsgate Harbour.

Service Call 29

30th July @ 12:32 ILB launched to a grounded yacht, with 7 persons on board in Pegwell Bay. On scene the ILB attached a line and attempted to tow the casualty into deeper water, but it was no use, the water was too low . The ILB took 5 of the persons aboard and brought them in to Ramsgate Harbour.

ILB to return later when the tide is high enough to refloat the yacht.

Photo by Mark Stanford

Service Call 28

23rd July @ 17:59 ILB launched to a report of two children in an inflatable kayak by Sandwich Estate, with their mother attempting to swim out and reach them. On scene the ILB found the children to be ok and safe for the time being, so immediately went to get the mother, whom they brought onboard the ILB. They then returned to the kayak and got the two children aboard and then returned them all to the beach, where they were handed over to Deal mobile Coastguard and informed them that the mother has been coughing due to water intake and was cold.

Photo by Mark Stanford

Service Call 27

23rd July @ 13:45 ILB relaunched to a yacht with engine failure off Stone Bay. On scene the ILB passed a line and towed the casualty into Ramsgate Harbour.

Photo by Maz Critchley

Service Call 26

23rd July @ 13:29 ILB launched to a person who fell in the water from his boat at the back of the Southern Breakwater (casualty was wearing a lifejacket). On scene the ILB found the person had managed to get to the breakwater and climb out of the water. Once the casualty had been taken aboard the ILB one of the ILB crew then went aboard the casualties boat and assisted his crewman in bringing the boat back to its mooring. ILB returned to station.

Service Call 25

18th July @ 09:49 ILB launched to a speed boat with engine failure in Pegwell Bay with 2 adults and 2 babies aboard. On scene the ILB passed a line and towed the casualty into Ramsgate Harbour.

Service Call 24

11th July @ 12:58 ILB launched to 2 children cut off by the tide under Port Control. arriving on scene the ILB found the 2 children with an RNLI Lifeguard in attendance. They were then brought aboard the ILB and taken to Ramsgate Main Sands, where they were handed over to the RNLI Lifeguards on duty. The Lifeguard that was in attendance with the 2 casualties made his own way back to the beach.

Service Call 23

5th July @ 08:20 ILB launched to a kite surfer in difficulty in the Sandwich Bay Area. On scene the ILB quickly found the kite surfer and brought him aboard. The board was now safely ashore but his kite was missing. The ILB then carried out an extensive search for the missing kite, but nothing found. The kite surfer was then landed ashore, after which the ILB returned to station

Service Call 22

30th June @ 16:26 ILB launched to a person that had fallen over the harbour wall, seaward side, with the tide rapidly coming in. On scene 2 ILB crew went ashore to assess the casualty and kept his head above water. A 3rd crew member came ashore with the stretcher and with the help of the other 2, got the casualty into it. He was then taken to the ILB in the stretcher, and once secure rushed back to the boathouse where an ambulance crew were waiting.

Service Call 21

30th June @ 10:27 ILB launched to a small pleasure craft with steering difficulties off Broadstairs pier with one person on board. On scene the ILB put one crewmember aboard to attach a line and then towed the casualty back to Ramsgate.

Photo by Ramsgate RNLI

Service Call 20

27th June @ 07:32 AWB launched at the request of UK Coastguard to a RIB in difficulty East of the Goodwin Sands. On scene the casualties were taken aboard another vessel that was in the area, allowing the lifeboat to tow the RIB back to Ramsgate.

Service Call 19

26th June @ 21:41 ILB launched to the assistance of a 29ft yacht with engine failure, 1 mile north of Ramsgate. On scene the ILB passed a line and towed the casualty in to Ramsgate.

Service Call 18

26th June @ 15:50 On returning to station after incident 17, the ILB was diverted to a small cabin cruiser with engine failure behind the Southern Breakwater. On scene the ILB attached a line and towed the casualty into the harbour.

Photo by Ramsgate RNLI

Service Call 17

26th June @ 15:21 ILB launched to a report of a group of people cut off by the tide near Stone Bay. On scene the ILB crew saw the 9 persons making their way carefully back to the main beach. Once the ILB crew were happy that the persons were safe, made their way back to Ramsgate. False alarm with good intent.

Service Call 16

20th June @ 04:12 ILB launched at the request of UK Coastguard to assist the police at Dumpton Gap with a person in the water. When the ILB arrived on scene, the person had been retrieved from the water by the police. ILB released and returned to station.

Service Call 15

17th June @ 12:13 AWB launched to a report of a small RIB in difficulty NW of the Thanet Offshore Wind Farm. On scene the AWB took the casualties aboard and with the RIB in tow, returned to Ramsgate.

Service Call 14

16th June @ 11:14 AWB launched at the request of UK Coastguard to a RIB in difficulty 20 miles NE of Ramsgate.

Photo by Sarah Hewes

Service Call 13

13th June @ 18:27 ILB launched to the assistance of a yacht with mechanical failure off Dumpton Gap, which was at the time being towed by a local Ramsgate yacht. On scene the ILB swapped tow with the yacht and towed the casualty into Ramsgate Harbour.

Service Call 12

9th June @ 15:41 AWB launched at the request of UK Coastguard to a Dutch Barge with engine failure. Communication between the Coastguard and the casualty were very poor and an accurate position was difficult to obtain. A Coastguard spotter plane was in the area and after a quick search, spotted the casualty and were able to give the Coastguard operations room an accurate position.

The AWB made its way to the position given (NE of the Thanet Offshore Windfarm), but found nothing in the area. The AWB called the casualty by VHF and were able to get an accurate heading for the casuaty from the onboard Direction Finder. On arriving on scene, the casualty was making way under its own power, hence not in the position originally reported. Having broken down twice, it was decided by the Coxswain to escort the casualty into Ramsgate.

Photo by Steve Burton

Service Call 11

7th June @ 16:30 ILB launched at the request of UK Coastguard to a broken down 27ft yacht off Dumpton Gap. On scene the ILB passed a line and towed the casualty into Ramsgate Harbour.

Photo by Ramsgate RNLI

Service Call 10

4th June @ 18:38 ILB launched to a 50ft passenger style boat with engine failure just South of the Ramsgate Approach Chanel. On scene the ILB stood by whilst the casualty vessel retrieved their anchor. They then towed them into Ramsgate Harbour.

Photo by Ramsgate RNLI

Service Call 9

29th May @ 12:58 ILB launched at the request of UK Coastguard, after receiving a pan pan from a motor cruiser with engine failure off Dumpton Gap. Arriving on scene the ILB passed a line and once the casualty had retrieved their anchor, towed them into Ramsgate Harbour.

On entering the outer harbour the ILB helm gave some safety advice to 2 persons on an inflatable kayak.

Photo by Mark Stanford

Service Call 8

26th May @ 11:22 AWB launched at the request of UK Coastguard to a report from a passing ship, of a vessel broken down near the Foxtrot Buoy. On scene the casualties were taken aboard the AWB and brought ashore, with their vessel in tow.

Service Call 7

21st May @ 21:09 ILB launched at the request of UK Coastguard to a jet Ski with 2 persons in difficulty near Stone Bay. On scene 2 ILB crew went ashore and brought the jet ski out to the ILB and made it ready for towing. The 2 jet ski riders were taken aboard the ILB, which then made its way to the jet ski launch area near the Ramsgate Tunnels. Once the jet ski and riders were landed safely ashore the ILB returned to station.

Service Call 5 & 6

14th April @ 02:30 both AWB & ILB launched at the request of UK Coastguard to a report of a person reported missing. Both boats carried out a thorough search of the area, along with Mobile Coastguard units shoreside. After an hours search a report came in that the missing person was reported to be safely ashore. Once this had been confirmed by the police, both boats were released and returned to station.

Service Call 4

7th April @ 09:54 ILB launched at the request of UK Coastguard to a report from a member of the public of persons cut off by the tide at Dumpton Gap. ILB arrived on scene and after carrying out a thorough search of the area found no persons in difficulty.

Service Call 3

14th March @ 19:33 AWB launched at the request of UK Coastguard to a 9m yacht with fouled propeller, East of the Thanet Offshore Windfarm. Whilst on route we received an updated position for the casualty, which had now drifted even further away.

Once on scene the AWB passed a line and started the tow back to Ramsgate. With the deteriorating sea conditions it was only possible to tow the casualty at 4.5 - 5 knots in order to minimise the possibility of damage to the vessel or injury to the 3 persons onboard.

On arrival at Ramsgate Harbour the casualty was berthed on a pontoon, assisted by a Coastguard mobile unit who assist with mooring the casualty shoreside. AWB ready for service 01:15 Sunday morning.

Service Call 2

11th March @ 14:46 ILB launched at the request of Port Control to the assistance of a local fishing boat with engine failure just off Ramsgate channel which, due to the tidal flow and direction, was in immediate danger of being grounded ashore.
On scene the ILB attached a line and towed the casualty into Ramsgate Harbour, onto its berth.

Service Call 1

15th February @ 06:28 AWB launched at the request of UK Coastguard to assist with a search for a report of a missing person from a commercial vessel. Margate AWB and Coastguard helicopter are also in attendance.

At around 12:00 Margate AWB found a body matching the description of the missing crewman. All assets then returned to their home stations.

Photo by Sarah Hewes