A LIFEBOAT service in St Ives has given a detailed report about an incident it attended last week involving a sinking vessel with two people onboard. 

According to the update, which was posted on the St Ives Lifeboat social media page: "The pagers sounded at 4:15pm on Wednesday, November 22, St Ives Lifeboat was tasked to assist a vessel in difficulty. The All-Weather Lifeboat was launched to a report of a 50 foot passenger vessel with two persons on board taking on water some 15 miles north of St Ives Head. The ALB made best speed to the vessel's location.

"When on scene the Coxswain assessed the situation to see if it was safe to transfer two crew members and the salvage pump to the casualty vessel, the swell was making it a difficult transfer. The Coxswain made five attempts before the crew members and pump were successfully transferred over to the sinking vessel. Once they were onboard he awaited an update from the two crew members about the water ingress.

"The crew members assessed the situation and it became apparent that no pumps were working and the water ingress was becoming alarming. Both crew members got to work and managed to get the pumps working and they stemmed the flow of water by using an old lifejacket on the vessel to cork up the holes between the planks of the casualty vessel. After about an hour the two crew members gave the Coxswain an update of the situation and it was agreed that the best course of action was to escort the vessel to Newlyn.

"With this in mind, the Coxswain spoke to the Coastgaurd and requested the launch of Penlee Lifeboat to meet with St Ives Lifeboat just south of the Runnel Stone. The Coxswain passed the estimated arrival time to the Coastguard and proceeded to the Runnel Stone. As things were now under control the St Ives Coxswain made a call to the Penlee Coxswain and gave an update of the current situation.

"While passing Pendeen Lighthouse the RNLI crew members on the casualty vessel called the All Weather Lifeboat and said that they had lost all power to the pumps, all navigation equipment was unavailable and all lights had been extinguished. A search light was used to illuminate the casualty vessel and they followed the lifeboat from astern until handover to Penlee.

"Around 22:30 Penlee Lifeboat rendezvoused with St Ives lifeboat. It was decided the best course of action was for Penlee to take the casualty vessel under tow as the worsening weather conditions made it unsafe to escort the vessel with its lights out. The St Ives Lifeboat passed the care of the casualty vessel over to Penlee Lifeboat and they connected their tow rope.

"The two St Ives Crew members stayed onboard the casualty vessel. The deteriorating weather conditions meant it was safer two lifeboats not to attempt to transfer any new crew and kit to the casualty vessel. St Ives Lifeboat was released from the task and returned to station. A crew member from St Ives was tasked to drive to Newlyn to collect the two crew members and the salvage pump and return them to St Ives.