Whilst on patrol / exercise, Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat
was asked for assistance by the Sandown Lifeguards, as there was a dive
RIB in the surf just off their Lifeguard hut and was in need of Sandown
& Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat assistance.
Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat arrived on scene to find a 18 ft
dive RIB called 'Cockle Shell' with 7 persons on board had problems with
the loss of engine and a flat battery. Sandown & Shanklin Inshore
Lifeboat contacted Solent CG and informed them about what the owners
wanted to do.
SSILB tried to start the dive RIB with jump leads (on the request of the
owners) and it did not work .
So SSILB set up a tow, then towed the dive RIB back to our station,
where we then tried to charge the battery (on the request of the owners)
- which did not work.
SSILB then requested that SSILB towed the vessel back to Langstone where
they were based and they agreed.
SSILB then towed 'Cockle Shell' to Langstone harbour to their slipway,
the diving crew were very happy with our professionalism, skills, due
care & attention, so much so that they gave us a very kind donation and
a big thank you all round from their crew.

SSILB crew members
assist the
“Cockle Shell”
with their power failure problem.
“Cockle Shell” on tow back to
Langstone.
Lifeboat boat crew given £100 donation
2nd
of June 2008 THE crew of a
boat towed from the Solent by volunteer lifesavers were so grateful they
gave their rescuers a £100 donation.
Sandown and Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat was called out
by lifeguards at 1.30pm yesterday to an 18ft dive rib called Cockleshell
with seven people on board after its engine failed and battery went
flat.
They tried unsuccessfully to start the boat with jump
leads so towed it back to their base where they tried to charge the
battery, still without success.
Later they towed the vessel back to its home slipway
at Langstone Harbour.

CASH THANKS FOR LIFEBOAT RESCUE
2nd of June 2008
By Richard Wright
SO
GRATEFUL for their rescue were the seven people aboard a dive boat that
they donated £100 to Sandown and Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat.
The
lifeboat was called out by Sandown lifeguards on Sunday at 1.30pm to the
18ft rigid inflatable Cockle Shell, which had suffered engine failure.
Lifeboat
crew members tried to carry out repairs and eventually towed them back
to Langstone Harbour slipway.