Barge Towed to Safety by Sheerness RNLI Lifeboat

The Sheerness RNLI all weather lifeboat was called out to a 57-foot barge that had broken down in the Thames Estuary.

The volunteer crew of the Sheerness RNLI all weather lifeboat launched at 9.39pm on Thursday 1 August after being tasked by the UK Coastguard to a 57foot barge, with three people on board, that had suffered total steering failure in the Thames Estuary and was now at anchor on Blyth Sands.

The lifeboat was on scene at 10.03pm and crew member was placed on board the casualty to fix a towline. With this achieved the vessel was safely under tow at 10.20pm and was secured in Queenborough Harbour at 00.08am with assistance from the Sheppey Coastguard Rescue Team who were on the scene.

The lifeboat was back on station at 00.20am and after refuelling was ready for service again at 00.50am.