The St Catherine Lifeboat launched earlier this afternoon to help a casualty vessel with 8 people onboard that was reported to be taking on water.

The bilge pump on the casualty vessel was managing to keep up with the water entering the engine bay at the time. However, there were not enough lifejackets for everyone onboard. Fortunately, one of the Seafaris vessels was in the vicinity being skippered by an off-duty RNLI Jersey crew member and was able to assist by taking some of the people off the casualty vessel and onboard the Seafaris boat. Both boats then started making way back to Bouley Bay.

Just as the Atlantic 85 lifeboat was about to make contact with the casualty vessel, it suffered an engine failure on one of its two outboard engines. The crew were able to isolate the failed engine and escorted to casualty vessel back to Bouley Bay.

Once everyone was safe and well, a decision was made to return the St Catherine Lifeboat to the St Helier Lifeboat station and to swap the inshore lifeboats over. As the St Helier Lifeboat station has the Tamar class all weather lifeboat as well as the Atlantic 85, swapping the inshore lifeboats over ensures we maintain full cover across the whole island in case of another incident.

A new engine for the inshore lifeboat has already been arranged by the RNLI and this will be swapped out early next week.

We would remind boat owners that you must have enough lifejackets onboard for everyone. Research has proven that wearing a lifejacket can increase your chances of survival by up to four times if you’re immersed in cold water. Whatever your activity, wearing a well-fitted, well-maintained and suitable lifejacket or buoyancy aid could save your life.