The Front Page. - Copy 180 ( Dead Whale in Harbour, Channel Collision.)
3 June 2011
RNLI PRESS RELEASE: Volunteer crew members from two Kent lifeboat stations were called out on Wednesday evening (1st) to aid the occupants of two boats after a collision in the middle of the Dover Strait.
The lifeboats crews’ pagers alerted them to the emergency at approximately 1815hrs and within minutes both lifeboats were underway to the scene in an area south of the Varne. With reports of one vessel sinking and its occupants taking to life rafts all available search and rescue assets were tasked by Dover and the French Coastguards at Cap Gris Nez. This included Calais and Boulogne lifeboats and a RAF Sea King helicopter from Wattisham.
The two small motorboats involved were both heading back to Dover when the collision occurred. One vessel sustained damage to its stern and steering whilst the second vessel’s hull was fractured and was sinking.
Three of the people from the more damaged craft were airlifted by the helicopter and flown to Dover Coastguard Station. The remaining man initially stayed aboard to assist in keeping the craft afloat but was eventually taken aboard Dover lifeboat as the situation deteriorated. This vessel with damage to the bow was taken in tow stern first to lessen the water pressure on the damaged hull. The stricken craft was eventually safely grounded on Shakespeare Beach.
Walmer’s Atlantic 85 class lifeboat was tasked to the other vessel and two crew members boarded to check the two occupants for injuries and provide any necessary first aid. This vessel was able to proceed under its own power but with limited steering required an escort to Dover from the lifeboat.
Martin Phillips, RNLI Staff Coxswain and, in command of Dover Lifeboat during the emergency said: “This was a serious incident with fortunately a good outcome for the individuals involved and an excellent multi agency multinational response to their predicament.”
Walmer lifeboat Helmsman Andrew Howland said: “The people aboard the vessel we were tasked to assist were the more fortunate and the amount of damage meant we didn’t have to evacuate them. After checking them for injuries we were able to escort them to the safety of Dover Marina.“
Picture above by Nicola Thomas
Top Picture by Nicola Thomas shows Calais and Dover Lifeboats assisting one of the sinking motorboats.
Picture left by Martin Collins shows Walmer Lifeboat assisting another one of the beleaguered motorboats.
Picture above by Nicola Thomas shows the sinking motorboat assisted by Dover Lifeboat.
We believe the people involved in the incident and subsequently rescued were all members of the Royal Cinque Ports Yacht Club here on Dover Seafront.
Many thanks to Martin Collins and Nicola Thomas of RNLI for the excellent pictures and thanks to Martin as ever for the full report.
* *
These amazing pictures were sent in by reader John Mavin. John, who you may remember was featured on these pages very recently when we highlighted his fab new book called Cruise Ships of Dover, well John was going about his business of photographing the cruise ships in close proximity, when this leviathan of the deep whispered by. Yes indeed a whale in Dover Harbour. Sadly though this great monster of the sea was dead. But extraordinary to see a whale in our waters. Several have washed up along the coast in recent times. Why or wherefore.. well we just dont know..if alive when they wash up they generally die, but experts tell us there is little food in these waters anyway to sustain these enormous chaps.
John goes on with the story...
"
I was at the very end of the Admiralty Pier this morning (Tuesday) catching the cruise ship arrivals when I saw what at first I thought was a sail from a yacht (with an air lock) floating inside the harbour. As it approached me from the direction of the breakwater I changed my mind, especially when it was clear the gulls were giving it a lot of attention. The poor old thing got caught in a fast current which then took it out of the western entrance, passing beneath me and exuding a putrid smell.
Just after 9 am I phoned a contact in the DHB Environment Monitoring Team and they were already aware, having been advised by Port Control. In that case I guess it came in through the eastern entrance.
Good job it didn't end up on the beach.......
"
Pictures by
John Mavin.
Channel Collision
Dover and Walmer lifeboats called to Channel Collision
RNLI PRESS RELEASE: Volunteer crew members from two Kent lifeboat stations were called out on Wednesday evening (1st) to aid the occupants of two boats after a collision in the middle of the Dover Strait.
The lifeboats crews’ pagers alerted them to the emergency at approximately 1815hrs and within minutes both lifeboats were underway to the scene in an area south of the Varne. With reports of one vessel sinking and its occupants taking to life rafts all available search and rescue assets were tasked by Dover and the French Coastguards at Cap Gris Nez. This included Calais and Boulogne lifeboats and a RAF Sea King helicopter from Wattisham.
The two small motorboats involved were both heading back to Dover when the collision occurred. One vessel sustained damage to its stern and steering whilst the second vessel’s hull was fractured and was sinking.
Three of the people from the more damaged craft were airlifted by the helicopter and flown to Dover Coastguard Station. The remaining man initially stayed aboard to assist in keeping the craft afloat but was eventually taken aboard Dover lifeboat as the situation deteriorated. This vessel with damage to the bow was taken in tow stern first to lessen the water pressure on the damaged hull. The stricken craft was eventually safely grounded on Shakespeare Beach.
Walmer’s Atlantic 85 class lifeboat was tasked to the other vessel and two crew members boarded to check the two occupants for injuries and provide any necessary first aid. This vessel was able to proceed under its own power but with limited steering required an escort to Dover from the lifeboat.
Martin Phillips, RNLI Staff Coxswain and, in command of Dover Lifeboat during the emergency said: “This was a serious incident with fortunately a good outcome for the individuals involved and an excellent multi agency multinational response to their predicament.”
Walmer lifeboat Helmsman Andrew Howland said: “The people aboard the vessel we were tasked to assist were the more fortunate and the amount of damage meant we didn’t have to evacuate them. After checking them for injuries we were able to escort them to the safety of Dover Marina.“
Picture above by Nicola Thomas
More pictures to come shortly....and here we are....
Top Picture by Nicola Thomas shows Calais and Dover Lifeboats assisting one of the sinking motorboats.
Picture left by Martin Collins shows Walmer Lifeboat assisting another one of the beleaguered motorboats.
Picture above by Nicola Thomas shows the sinking motorboat assisted by Dover Lifeboat.
We believe the people involved in the incident and subsequently rescued were all members of the Royal Cinque Ports Yacht Club here on Dover Seafront.
Many thanks to Martin Collins and Nicola Thomas of RNLI for the excellent pictures and thanks to Martin as ever for the full report.
* *
A Whale in the Harbour.
These amazing pictures were sent in by reader John Mavin. John, who you may remember was featured on these pages very recently when we highlighted his fab new book called Cruise Ships of Dover, well John was going about his business of photographing the cruise ships in close proximity, when this leviathan of the deep whispered by. Yes indeed a whale in Dover Harbour. Sadly though this great monster of the sea was dead. But extraordinary to see a whale in our waters. Several have washed up along the coast in recent times. Why or wherefore.. well we just dont know..if alive when they wash up they generally die, but experts tell us there is little food in these waters anyway to sustain these enormous chaps.
John goes on with the story...
"
I was at the very end of the Admiralty Pier this morning (Tuesday) catching the cruise ship arrivals when I saw what at first I thought was a sail from a yacht (with an air lock) floating inside the harbour. As it approached me from the direction of the breakwater I changed my mind, especially when it was clear the gulls were giving it a lot of attention. The poor old thing got caught in a fast current which then took it out of the western entrance, passing beneath me and exuding a putrid smell.
Just after 9 am I phoned a contact in the DHB Environment Monitoring Team and they were already aware, having been advised by Port Control. In that case I guess it came in through the eastern entrance.
Good job it didn't end up on the beach.......
"
Pictures by
John Mavin.