Two west Cornwall lifeboat crews are due a well-deserved rest after their combined efforts saved a large cargo ship from drifting towards the perilous shore.
RNLI Sennen Cove’s City of London III and Penlee’s Ivan Ellen lifeboats arrived on the scene, four miles south of Gwennap Head, Porthgwarra, at around 3.40am yesterday (Monday March 20).
The Lady Alida, a 80m coaster which suffered engine failure, was carrying seven people. The ship, which sails under the flag of the Netherlands, was laden with sand and bound for Waterford, southern Ireland.
In the face of darkness and complex conditions both lifeboat crews attached tow ropes to the ship and brought it slowly seawards – roughly 30 minutes after they were awakened by their pagers.
A spokesman for Sennen Cove Lifeboat Station described the shout as a ‘classic operation’.
“Two lifeboats assisted in saving the ship – putting their combined 4,000hp to good effect,” he said.
“Lots of challenges towing in tandem, keeping the lifeboats close together.”
“Superb deck work by both crews in rolling conditions and as always, and despite the constant leg-pulling, a great pleasure to work with our colleagues at Penlee.”
With the ship around five miles offshore at 5.25am the Lady Alida was able to drop anchor before awaiting the arrival of a tug. Both lifeboats were then released and proceeded to Newlyn for a well-earned cup of tea.
But it was not long before the coastguard rang again to inform them that the ship was dragging anchor and the lifeboats were required again.
They launched from Newlyn at 6.30am and were back with the Lady Alida within around 40 minutes.
The lifeboats again attached tows, making quicker work of it in the appreciated daylight, before taking the ship seaward until the arrival of the salvage tug, Alp Central, at 12.30pm.
Ivan Ellen and the City of London III were then released, with the latter returning to the Cove to be recovered up the long slip at 1.45pm.
Alp Central towed the Lady Alida towards Falmouth.
Crews had to battle heavy rain at times, with a west-southwest force five to six wind with a moderate sea and a three to four-metre swell.
Both west Cornwall lifeboat crews were dispatched by Falmouth Coastguard.
“Thank you for all your kind messages of encouragement and support for both lifeboats during yesterday’s long ‘shout’,” said a spokeswoman from Penlee Lifeboat Station.
“They are much appreciated by us all. The crew are now fully rested, most of them will already be up and about doing their day jobs.”
“The Ivan Ellen has been washed down, checked over and refuelled, ready for the next shout as and when it comes.”
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Source: Cornwall News
