Owner sought for unmanned tugboat

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Chiswick Lifeboat rescues unskippered vessel

At 20.50 on Monday 2nd January 2006 Chiswick RNLI Lifeboat was called to investigate reports of a person screaming by the river in Bishops Park, Fulham.

After searching fruitlessly for anyone in distress the crew were stood down by the coastguard. While making their way back upstream, they came upon a vessel showing lights but apparently not under control.

They discovered an unmanned tugboat, with proper navigation lights but with a propeller fouled by weed. Helmsman Alan Hudson said “We considering using the towline but decided it would be easier to recover the vessel into the lifeboat as it was all of 24 inches long.”

The radio controlled tug is now safely in the crew room at Chiswick Lifeboat with a clean propeller. Alan Hudson added “The tug must have been someone’s Christmas present which the tide swept away when its propeller got fouled” The RNLI will be happy to return the model boat to its owner if they can contact the station on 020 8995 5534.

The RNLI has 233 lifeboat stations including four on the Thames. Chiswick Lifeboat is one of the busiest lifeboat stations in the UK recovering over 100 people each year. The RNLI is entirely supported by voluntary contributions.

 

January 6, 2006