2012 Services
Fishing vessel aground
15th December 2012
Oban lifeboat launched at 3am on Saturday 15th December to assist the fishing vessel "Star of Annan" reported aground off Ardtornish Light in the Sound of Mull. The fishing vessel, however, had refloated herself and, with no apparent damage to hull or engine, headed for Oban escorted by the lifeboat, where they arrived at 4.42 am. The lifeboat was ready for service again at 4.46 am.
Newborn baby taken to Hospital
14th December 2012
After 5 weeks of inactivity, Oban RNLI lifeboat launched on service twice within 5 hours on Friday night / Saturday morning. The first of these saw "Mora Edith Macdonald" leave Oban at 9.50 pm on Friday 14th December to pick up a newly-born baby plus Mum and Dad from the Ro-Ro berth at Craignure, Isle of Mull where the Calmac ferry "Hebrides" stood off until the embarkation had been completed. The "passengers" were landed in Oban at 11 pm where an ambulance conveyed them to hospital.
Dismasted yacht
8th November 2012
Whilst sailing to the east of Lismore lighthouse just before 10pm on Thursday 8th November the sailing yacht Clear Blue, with five people onboard became dismasted. The crew of the vessel immediately broadcast a MAYDAY alert on VHF channel 16 which was responded to by Clyde Coastguard, who requested the launch of Oban RNLI Lifeboat Mora Edith MacDonald. The lifeboat was launched at 10:05pm and arrived onscene to the east of Lismore at 10:20pm.
The crew of the yacht managed to clear the damaged rigging with the lifeboat standing by to provide assistance if necessary. Once the rigging had been cleared the yacht was escorted into Dunstaffnage Marina and secured in it's berth. Oban lifeboat then returned to station and was ready for service again at 12:16am.
Medevac of a child from Mull
31st October 2012
Oban Lifeboat was launched at 10.50 pm to bring a sick child to hospital in Oban from the Island of Mull. Two Ambulance Paramedics joined the Lifeboat and the 6 year-old boy was accompanied by his Mother. On arrival in Oban an ambulance conveyed them to Lorn & The Islands General Hospital, the lifeboat thereafter, refuelling and being ready for service again at 1 a.m.
Yacht assisted in Loch Melfort
30th September 2012
On the afternoon of Sunday 30th October, Oban lifeboat launched to assist the Bavaria 36 yacht Hamlet in Loch Melfort, some 12 miles South of Oban, with three persons aboard.
The yacht had lost power and, in the strong wind, could only tack to and fro across the loch under only foresail until the arrival of the lifeboat who took her under tow to Kilmelfort. The lifeboat then returned to Oban where she was refuelled and ready for service again at five minutes past five.
Search for missing person
18th September 2012
Oban Lifeboat was launched at 21:58 to assist in the search for a missing person. The search took place along Oban Esplanade to the Ganavan shoreline. After completing the search with nothing found the lifeboat returned to station.
Person in the water
3rd September 2012
Oban Lifeboat was launched on Monday 3rd September at 01:30 following reports that a woman was in the water in the vicinity of the North Pier.
During the time it took for the lifeboat to make its way from the lifeboat berth on the other side of the bay the woman had managed to climb into a boat at the North Pier. The volunteer lifeboat crew took the woman onboard the lifeboat and took her to the lifeboat slipway where she was transferred to an ambulance.
Oban lifeboat was ready for service again at 02:09.
Medevac from Kerrera
23rd August 2012
Oban Lifeboat was called at 4:45pm on Thursday 23rd August to evacuate an elderly French lady from a yacht in Oban Marina on the Isle of Kerrera. The lady was suffering from a damaged hip and the two paramedicsw2ho accompanied the lifeboat attended to her as the lifeboat returnedto Oban, from where she was taken to Lorne and the Isles Hospital.
Dinghy rescued
18th August 2012
At 6:30pm on Saturday 18th August Oban Lifeboat launched to go to the assistance of a 16ft Starfish dinghy with one adult and two children aboard. She had lost power and was drifting off Ganavan when the lifeboat reached her, taking her in tow to Dunstaffnage Marina where she was left at 7:45pm.
Man recovered from Oban Marina
15th August 2012
At 5.20pm on Tuesday 15th August, Oban lifeboat was called to attend to a 77 year-old man who had fallen off the pontoon to which he was trying to moor the yacht “Pennant” in the Marina at Ardentrive, Isle of Kerrera. He had swallowed a fair amount of water and Dr Colin Wilson of the lifeboat crew thought it best that he be examined in hospital and drove him there once the lifeboat had brought him back to Oban.
The N.E’ly strong wind which had been blowing all day affects the Ardentrive Marina badly and causes vessels in process of tying up to sheer about suddenly, this probably the reason for the gentleman’s unexpected swim.
114 year old yacht assisted
14th August 2012
Oban Lifeboat Mora Edith Macdonald launched at 12.44 this afternoon following a call to the Coastguard from the 30 ft. Gaff Cutter Wender.
Wender, with two persons aboard, had suffered engine failure just off Lady Rock at the southern tip of the Isle of Lismore. The lifeboat took her in tow to Oban Sailing Club moorings in Oban Bay and was refuelled and ready for service again at 1.52 p.m.
Oban Lifeboat answers Mayday call
3rd August 2012
Oban Lifeboat Mora Edith Macdonald this morning swiftly answered a Mayday call from the 30 ft. yacht Dark Island aground on Lady Rock off Lismore Light with 3 persons aboard.
The lifeboat’s volunteer crew were on scene 18 minutes after launching, immediately passing a tow-line to the casualty and pulling her off gently with no apparently serious damage. Once satisfied that the yacht was able to make her own way with no great ingress of water, the lifeboat returned to station and was refuelled and ready for service again at 9.55 am.
A busy moring for Oban Lifeboat
22nd July 2012
Oban Lifeboat got off to a busy start on Sunday 22nd July when the volunteer crew were tasked to three separate incidents within a few hours. At 9:18am to lifeboat was launched to assist the yacht Theodore which was dragging it's anchor in Puilladobhrain Bay.
Oban lifeboat arrived onscene at 9:38am, fortunately the skipper of the yacht had already been able to deal with the situation so Oban Lifeboat returned to station. Just as the crew were finishing securing the lifeboat in her berth information was received that a small dinghy was adrift in Oban Bay so the lifeboat immediately relaunched to locate and assist the dinghy, which was found to be ashore at Dunollie Castle. Oban Lifeboat therefore requested that Oban Coastguard Rescue team attend to secure the vessel.
Following both of these incidents the crew returned to the station at 10:45am, however just as the crew were leaving the station the lifeboat was again requested to launch. On this occasion the sailing yacht Misty was dragging it anchor near the North Pier in Oban Bay and was in serious danger of going aground. At the time there was no indication as to whether there were any people on board the vessel so the lifeboat immediately proceeded to the yacht and placed two of the volunteer crew on board who were able to ascertain that there were no people on board. The lifeboat crew therefore recovered the anchor and secured a tow line. The Lifeboat then towed the yacht to a mooring where it was secured.
The lifeboat then returned to station and was ready for service again at 11:44am after a busy mornings work for the volunteer crew
Incident in Bernera Bay
13th July 2012
Oban lifeboat Mora Edith Macdonald launched at 9.14 pm on Friday evening following a request from Clyde Coastguard to investigate a report from the yacht Revolution that what appeared to be a body in the water had been seen near Bernera Bay off the South West corner of the Isle of Lismore.
When the lifeboat arrived on scene the body, now on the rocks, was indeed found to be human remains and the Police were informed, leaving two crew-members to stand-by the body, Coxswain Ronnie MacKillop returned to Oban where he picked up two Police Officers and headed back to Bernera Bay.
By now, Strathclyde Fire & Rescue had been requested by the Police to give help and, after assisting so far as possible, the lifeboat returned to Station where she was made ready for service again at 4.13 am.
Yacht aground in Inninmore Bay
7th July 2012
Oban lifeboat Mora Edith Macdonald this morning answered a call from the Coastguard to attend the 36 ft. yacht Trebizond with two people on board and aground near Rubh Redire at the entrance to the Sound of Mull on the Morvern shore. The yacht had lost power and anchored in order to prepare to sail off but, in so doing, ran aground. The lifeboat, arriving on scene at 10.15 am, set up a tow from her bow and gently came astern with the casualty which did not appear to be taking any water - thereafter she was towed to Oban where they arrived at 12 noon. The lifeboat was refuelled and ready for service again at 12.22 pm.
A short 30 minute "shout"
30th June 2012
Oban Lifeboat was launched at 4:39am on Saturday 30th June after a fisherman on the fv Charmel which was alongside the Railway Pier at Oban fell some 12 feet from the shelter deck of the vessel into the hold.
Local ambulance personnel attended to him,strapping him into a stretcher but were unable easily to land him on the pier so the lifeboat was requested to launch and took him aboard over the transom. She then took the injured man to the lifeboat berth from where the ambulance took him to Oban Hospital.
The whole incident took the lifeboat only 30 minutes and she was ready for service again at 5.09am.
Yacht adrift with engine failure
29th June 2012
Oban Lifeboat Mora Edith MacDonald launched at 1:20pm on Friday 29th June in response to a call to the Coastguard from the 35ft yacht Mhor Mischief with two persons aboard. The vessel had suffered engine failure and was becalmed near Balnagowan Island in the Firth of Lorne in danger of drifting ashore.
The Lifeboat reached her at 2pm, put two lifeboat crew member aboard and set up a tow to take her to Linnhe Marine where they arrived at 2:35pm.
The lifeboat returned to Oban at 3:17pm and was refueled and ready for sevice again at 3:34pm
Overdue boat in Loch Craignish
17th June 2012
At 3:35pm on Sunday 17th June Oban Lifeboat Mora Edith MacDonald was asked to proceed to Loch Craignish to search for an overdue 13ft rowing boat. Fortunately the boat and it's occupant were found to be safe and in no need of assistance before the lifeboat arrived in Loch Craignish. Oban lifeboat therefore returned to station.
Missing Diver in Loch Linnhe
15th June 2012
At 3:39pm on Friday 15th June Oban Lifeboat Mora Edith MacDonald was requested to proceed to Kentallen on Loch Linnhe to search for a fifty year old male diver who had failed to surface after diving with a friend.
Oban Lifeboat immediately launched and made it’s way towards Kentallen. In addition to Oban Lifeboat, two Coastguard rescue teams were tasked to carry out a shoreline search of the area along with a Royal Navy Rescue Helicopter from HMS Gannet in Prestwick. Whilst en-route to the last known location of the diver Oban Lifeboat received information from Clyde Coastguard that the diver has been spotted by his dive buddy 200 yards offshore and was making his way towards the shoreline. Oban Lifeboat continued to proceed to the area until it was confirmed that the diver had made it safely ashore. Oban Lifeboat then returned to station and was ready for service again at 4:54pm.
Yacht runs aground in Cuan Sound
14th June 2012
Oban Lifeboat Mora Edith MacDonald was launched on Thursday 14th June at 9:15am to assist the yacht Soleis. The yacht had sent out a “Pan Pan” distress call on VHF channel 16 after running aground in the Cuan Sound. At 9:51am Oban Lifeboat arrived onscene and immediately launched its inflatable XP boat to ascertain the depth of water alongside the yacht before moving in for a closer inspection.
The rescue attempt was made more challenging due to the strong eight knot tidal flow in the Cuan Sound, however a tow line was successfully passed to the vessel which was then towed to deeper water. Once the yacht was safely back in deeper water one of the volunteer lifeboat crew boarded the vessel to check for any water ingress. The yacht then proceeded to Oban Marina where it was lifted out to check for any further damage sustained in the grounding. Following this incident Oban Lifeboat returned to her berth and was ready for service again at 11:45am.
The photo below was taken using the lifeboats helmet camera and shows the towline being passed to the yacht.
Yacht adrift South of Kerrera
7th June 2012
Oban Lifeboat Mora Edith MacDonald was launched on Thursday 7th June at 6:45pm to assist the yacht Pilgrim of Solent which had broken down and was adrift at the southern entrance to the Sound of Kerrera.
Upon arrival at the scene the volunteer lifeboat crew passed a tow to the yacht which was then taken to
Oban Marina and secured in a berth by 8:55pm.
The photo below shows Oban Lifeboat towing the yacht to Oban Marina.
Yacht runs aground on Ferry Rocks
2nd June 2012
Just after 10:30am on Saturday 2nd June Oban RNLI lifeboat Mora Edith MacDonald launched to assist the yacht Pirouette which had run agroud on the ferry rocks just south of Oban with four people on board. By the time Oban Lifeboat was onscene the Kerrera ferry had taken two people from the Yacht. These people were transferred to the lifeboat where one of them received first aid from the volunteer lifeboat crew for injuries sustained in the grounding.
Meanwhile the Kerrera ferry was in the process of pulling the yacht from the rocks. After the yacht had been refloated one of volunteer lifeboat crew went onboard the yacht to assist its crew in taking it to Oban Marina. The casualty who received first aid treatment on the lifeboat was subsequently taken to hospital in Oban for further medical treatment.
Following this incident Oban lifeboat returned to Oban Bay to make its scheduled appearance at the Oban Duck Race in aid of the RNLI.
Oban Lifeboat launches for the sixth time in two days
27th May 2012
Oban Lifeboat Mora Edith Macdonald launched at 4.50 p.m. this afternoon at the request of the Coastguard who had received a message from the Moody 376 yacht Camelin II requesting assistance following battery failure. She was in the region of the Creag Islands and being towed by the yacht Lara from whom the lifeboat took over the tow.
The casualty was taken to Dunstaffnage Marina and the lifeboat back at her berth and ready for service again at 6.30 p.m.
Children in difficulty at Ganavan Sands
26th May 2012
Warm weather has encouraged scores of children to take to the water these last few days and, at Ganavan Sands, Oban, this has resulted in the local lifeboat being called out on both Friday and Saturday to recover those who were thought to be in trouble.
Fortunately, in both cases, the youngsters had been brought ashore or found their own way ashore before the lifeboat had to pick them up. In fresh off-shore winds, it takes no time at all for, particularly a child, to be blown out to sea.
This brought to an end a particularly busy two days for the volunteer crew of Oban lifeboat who were called out four times during that period.
Search for missing kayaker
26th May 2012
Oban lifeboat Mora Edith Macdonald launched at 2 a.m. this morning to search for an overdue kayaker who had set out from Balvicar on Friday afternoon for a few hours canoeing.
By 9 a.m. neither lifeboat nor helicopter had spotted anything and the lifeboat returned to Oban to take aboard a largely fresh crew who returned to search a wider area and by this time other local boats had joined in the search.
In the early afternoon, a small private helicopter reported that he had spotted a kayak and person in it some 2 miles West of Insh Island and he hovered over it until the lifeboat came on scene. This was the missing man who was found to be dead and the body was taken back to Oban and handed over to Police and undertakers.
The lifeboat was refuelled and ready for service again some 12 hours after launching.
Oban Lifeboat rescues a swimmer
24th May 2012
Multiple 999 calls to the Police resulted in Oban lifeboat making a swift launch
at 10.06 last night to intercept a young man who was attempting to swim from the town to the Island of Kerrera.
The swimmer had been taken aboard the “Margaret Sinclair” and was transferred to the lifeboat which was met by the Police on return to her berth.
The lifeboat was ready for service again at 10.30 p.m.
Oban Lifeboat attends cruise ship
22nd May 2012
Oban Lifeboat launched in the early hours of Tuesday morning in response to a call from the locally-based cruise-ship Hebridean Princess one of whose passengers had taken ill. The lifeboat met up with the cruise-ship in the Firth of Lorne where crew-member, Dr. Colin Wilson, went aboard to attend the patient.
The lifeboat then returned to Oban and was refuelled and ready for service again at 3.40 a.m.
Oban RNLI lifeboat, Mora Edith MacDonald, assists fishing boat
15th May 2012
At 4:40am on Tuesday 15th May Oban RNLI lifeboat Mora Edith MacDonald was tasked to a fishing vessel with three people onboard just outside of Oban Bay. The fishing vessel had lost steering control and had therefore requested assistance. The volunteer crew established a tow with the fishing vessel and took it to the Railway Pier in Oban where it was secured alongside. Oban RNLI lifeboat then returned to her berth and was ready for service again at 5:38am.
Oban RNLI lifeboat, Mora Edith MacDonald, searches for missing diver.
8th May 2012
At 11:15 am on Tuesday 8 May, Oban RNLI Lifeboat, Mora Edith McDonald, launched to assist in the search for a missing diver. After an extensive search involving Oban Lifeboat, Royal Navy Helicopter Rescue 177, Coastguard rescue teams and a number of local vessels the diver has still to be located. After diving on the wreck of the Breda in Tralee Bay, a group of divers lost contact with one of their group whilst surfacing. The dive vessel immediately contacted Clyde Coastguard to request assistance and Oban RNLI Lifeboat Mora Edith MacDonald was launched to search for the missing diver. Along with two dive boats, the research vessels Seol Na Mara and Tritonia, and the yacht Hot Toddy, an extensive surface search was carried out. A shoreline search was carried out by a Coastguard Rescue team and a Royal Navy Rescue Helicopter from HMS Gannet, Rescue 177 provided additional assistance. Whilst the surface search was being carried out, twelve divers searched the seabed in the immediate vicinity of the wreck to no avail. After three hours, Clyde Coastguard who were coordinating the incident called off the search. Police divers are currently en route to the area where they will continue to carry out an underwater search.
Oban’s RNLI Lifeboat, Mora Edith Macdonald, launches to assist yacht aground.
6th May 2012
Oban RNLI lifeboat, Mora Edith MacDonald, was launched again yesterday evening, just two hours after returning from a previous incident. The yacht Zulu Dawn with three people onboard had been sailing to the north east of Lismore when it ran aground on a reef between Lismore and Shuna. The crew of the yacht immediately called Clyde Coastguard for assistance and Oban RNLI Lifeboat was launched at 8:15pm. Despite the efforts of the volunteer lifeboat crew it was not possible to refloat the yacht due to the falling tide. The crew of the yacht were therefore transferred to the RNLI lifeboat and taken to Oban for the night. At 4am this morning Oban RNLI lifeboat relaunched to the same yacht, to attempt to refloat it on the high tide. This time the volunteer lifeboat crew were successful in towing the yacht off the reef. The yacht appeared to have suffered no major damage after spending the night aground. The lifeboat then returned to Oban and was ready for service again at 6:30am.
Oban’s RNLI Lifeboat, Mora Edith Macdonald, launches in response to call for assistance from yacht with engine failure.
5th May 2012
Oban RNLI lifeboat, Mora Edith MacDonald, was launched at 5:07pm this evening (Saturday 5th May) to assist the Swedish yacht Mjollnir. The yacht which had two people on board had suffered engine failure in the vicinity of Lady's Rock in the Firth of Lorne. Upon reaching the vessel the crew of the RNLI lifeboat established a towline between the yacht and the lifeboat and then proceeded to Oban Marina where the yacht was secured alongside. Oban RNLI lifeboat returned to station at 6:40pm.
Oban’s RNLI Lifeboat, Mora Edith Macdonald, launches in response to call for assistance from yacht off Craignure.
30th April 2012
Oban RNLI Lifeboat, the Mora Edith MacDonald, launched today at 1.20 p.m. in answer to an urgent request for assistance from the Fisher 37 “Java Moon” off Craignure on the Isle of Mull with three persons on board. The yacht’s planked bowsprit had sprung up, taking with it the stay secured in the stem, leaving a substantial hole through which, the yacht was taking in water fast. The three crew took to their liferaft after radioing for help. While the Lifeboat was on her 30 minute trip to the casualty, the Calmac ferry “Clansman” stood by and was prepared to launch one of her small boats. However, the motor cruiser “Enigma”, which was passing by, picked up the three sailors from the liferaft and transferred them to the lifeboat. On the lifeboat’s arrival on scene, Coxswain Ronnie MacKillop placed two lifeboat crewmen and a pump aboard the “Java Moon”. Had it not been for this prompt action it is quite likely that the yacht would have sunk. However, the yacht was then taken in tow and was laid alongside the North Pier, Oban at 4p.m. This service was an excellent example of the co-operation and willingness to assist, which is a hallmark of all such incidents at sea.
Oban’s RNLI Lifeboat, Mora Edith Macdonald, launches in response to report of person seen in the water off Esplanade.
10th April 2012
Reports from a reliable source that a person or body had been seen in the sea just off the Oban War Memorial resulted in the R.N.L.I. lifeboat launching on Monday evening at 3 minutes past eight. Despite assistance from an inflatable boat from m.v. Valiant and the firing of three illuminating parachute flares, nothing was found and the search was called off at 9.25 p.m. This morning (Tuesday) however, just before 9 a.m., the skipper of the yacht Ketos reported finding the body of a middle-aged male floating near his boat and retained it until the arrival of the lifeboat when the body was taken aboard and handed over to the Police at the lifeboat berth. The lifeboat was refuelled and ready for service again at 10 a.m.
Oban’s RNLI Lifeboat, Mora Edith Macdonald, launched to assist yacht in the Sound of Mull
20th March 2012
At 4.10 pm on Tuesday afternoon Clyde Coastguard requested the launch of Oban Lifeboat, the Mora Edith Macdonald to assist the 32 ft. Westerly Malin Ketch Cristala with two persons aboard. Cristala, sailing down the Sound of Mull, under canvas and no engine, had the misfortune to pick up some creel gear which wrapped itself round the rudder, firmly “anchoring” the yacht by the stern just near Lady Rock. The lifeboat’s crew released the yacht at 4.59 pm and towed her back to Oban where lifeboat crew-member James Hardie, dived below and removed the last of the rope from the rudder. The lifeboat returned to her berth at 6 pm and was refuelled and ready for service again at 6.15 pm.
Oban’s RNLI Lifeboat, Mora Edith Macdonald, launched to evacuate injured seaman.
28th February 2012
Oban’s RNLI Lifeboat, Mora Edith Macdonald launched at 12.05 this afternoon to attend an injured crewman aboard the Felstead involved in work on moorings off the East shore of the Isle of Lismore. The seaman had suffered chest injuries when he became trapped between a cable and a metal structure on the deck. The skipper of the vessel released the cable easing the tension and lifeboat crew member Gavin Turner, also a Paramedic, spoke on a link-call to a Doctor on shore before removing the casualty to the lifeboat at 12.42. The Mora Edith Macdonald then returned to Oban transferring the casualty by ambulance to Lorn and the Isles Hospital. Lifeboat crew member, Donald Matheson, joined the Felstead to assist the skipper to return her to Loch Creran.
Oban’s RNLI Lifeboat, Mora Edith Macdonald,on the first call out of the New Year
3rd January 2012
In response to a request from Clyde Coastguard Oban’s RNLI Lifeboat, the Mora Edith Macdonald, launched to the aid of the small fishing vessel, Condor, reported to be making water with one person aboard in Carding Mill Bay, Oban The lifeboat launched at 1125 and arrived on scene some seven minutes later where it was established that the vessel had taken aboard some one to two tonnes of water, probably during the height of the storm which was now abating. Conditions having improved considerably the lifeboat put two crewmembers aboard with a salvage pump and the water was swiftly cleared. The lifeboat left the scene at 1153 and was alongside at 1201 and ready for service at1215.
