Walton Lifeboat are busy at the moment!

[Cobra]

Just looking at Marinetraffic AIS http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/default.aspx?level0=100

It seems that the sand barge 'Francesca Prior' is being accompanied through the Spitway by the Walton Lifeboat at the moment...anyone got any further info?

 

[baldyash]

Seems just off Lee over Sands 'stationery' at 4.2 Knots !! Tug 'Grey Test' came out of Harwich as well. Hope all OK

 

[Cobra]

Just checked on Walton Lifeboat website, the Francesca Prior suffered a total power failure about 12nm from Walton. She is now under tow approaching Colne Point and bound for Brightlingsea.

 

[sailorman]

the Harwich duty tug just stated the on the vhf that the Grey Test would be back on duty approx 19.00z today

 

[DanTribe]

Look East TV news just said she lost power and that the skipper has been airlifted off after becoming unwell.

 

[Supine Being]

It looks like they're out and about again tonight. They're just off the VTS beacon.

 

[Simonpk]

AFAIK they were helping the Air Sea Rescue on exercise last night.

 

[ianfr]

From the RNLI website

"Volunteer lifeboat crew members from Walton and Frinton RNLI lifeboat station were launched this morning (Tuesday) to assist the crew of a cargo boat that had lost all power in gale force winds.

The lifeboat was asked to assist a sand barge, ‘Francesca Prior’, that had lost all power near to Southend-on-Sea, having left the Thames estuary just after 9am."

Ian

 

[Cobra]

Taken from the Walton & Frinton lifeboat site this morning:

17/4/2012:Launched to assistance of 100ft (30 metre) sand barge Francesca Prior 2 pob, broken down near South Whitaker buoy 12 miles SSW of Walton. On scene tow passed and passage commenced in very rough condition towards Brightlingsea and River Colne. Whilst underway crewmember of barge became ill. Conditions prevented the lifeboat evacuating the man and Rescue helicopter 125 was tasked, winching off the sick man whilst the barge was undertow. The lifeboat then continued the tow and in the sheltered waters of the Colne the wind farm support vessel Offshore Provider transferred the lifeboat second coxswain to the barge to assist the remaining crewman. Shortly after this the tug Grey Test that had been sent from Harwich arrived and took over the tow. The Francesca Prior was moored alongside a large rock barge anchored just off Brightlingsea and the remaining crewmember landed by Offshore Provider at
Brightlingsea. After recovering the second coxswain the lifeboat returned to station.

Launched 09:20 Wind SSW 8/9 RFS: 14:45 Sea: Rough
Crew: G Edwards, T Halls, R Farrance, R Wyatt, M Oakes, M Rayner and J Hale

Personally I wouldn't call the South Whitaker 'just off Southend' but I guess that is poetic licence for peeps that don't know our bit of coast line but were interested in the report!

It does seem to have been a shade boisterous in the Swin though!