19 February 2010
Dover’s RNLI volunteers to be featured in second series of Sea Patrol UK.
Words and Pictures by Martin Collins.
After the success of the first series, 'Sea Patrol UK' is back for a second run, featuring the work of the Dover Lifeboat, Dover Coastguards, and other organisations that perform search, rescue and security duties in the Dover Strait.
*Wall to Wall's director Diccon Green has already settled for his six month stint in Dover and is getting used to filming on a moving boat. He has previously worked for the BBC as a director and producer on several series featuring the police and other agencies in the UK, and most recently on the Sky One series UK Border Force which followed the work of customs and immigration teams. He will be splitting his time between the Dover Lifeboat and Coastguards working in the Dover area.
The first series showed the lifeboat crew rescuing the crew of a yacht that had gone aground on the treacherous Goodwin Sands and searching for a missing man. It was the most viewed series on the National Geographic Channel in the UK during 2009 and when shown on Channel Five attracted1.5 million viewers per week.
RNLI Coxswain Stuart Richardson said: “I’m pleased to see the Wall to Wall film crew back for a second series. The first series was an excellent way for the public to see close up the variety of searches and rescues carried out by the charity’s volunteers around the Dover Strait.”
Director Diccon Green said: “'Like the first series of Sea Patrol UK, we hope to make another fascinating and enthralling show featuring those amazing men and women of the RNLI, Coastguard, Navy and Bomb disposal Teams, who regularly put their lives at risk protecting and rescuing people, and ships, and policing the world’s busiest commercial waterway.”
The series of eight hour long episodes is due to air in July on National Geographic and then later in the year on Channel Five.
*Wall to Wall Television is a long established producer of high quality factual and drama programming. During 2009 it was voted most respected Independent Production Company in a survey by Televisual Magazine and has been responsible for well known series such as Who Do You Think You Are? and New Tricks.
Dover and Dungeness Lifeboats work together to tow in stricken beam trawler.
A 22m, 130 tonne beam trawler with gearbox failure required the assistance of two volunteer RNLI lifeboat crews when it broke down and started drifting in the busy south west shipping lane on Wednesday (10th February).
The Dungeness lifeboat launched first at 0750hrs to the disabled Plymouth registered trawler which. After taking the vessel under tow they were making slow progress towards Dover. The decision was made to launch the larger Dover lifeboat to assist as the turning tide would be soon ebbing and working against the rescuers.
Conditions during the rescue were difficult with freezing temperatures and periods of poor visibility as heavy snow showers passed through the Channel. The gale force winds meant that sea conditions were rough with a 2-3m swell.
The Dover crew were paged at 0930hrs and the lifeboat headed out to rendezvous with the other vessels. Once on scene the tow was transferred to the larger Severn class lifeboat and all three vessels headed for Dover.
Arriving off Dover at 1345hrs, an extra line was attached from the stern of the trawler to the Dungeness lifeboat to ensure the trawler was firmly under control. The three vessels then entered Dover Harbour where the casualty vessel, with three people onboard, was moored safely in the Tug Haven.
Dover RNLI Coxswain Stuart Richardson said: “This was our first call out for almost four months but everything went smoothly and it was nice for me to be able to work with my friends and former crew mates on the Dungeness lifeboat.”
