18/12/11 10:07
The ALB was launched to reports of a fisherman with a severed hand aboard a vessel off Worthing. The Coastguard rescue helicopter had also been launched with the intention of evacuating the crewman to hospital as quickly as possible. When the Lifeboat arrived on scene the helicopter winchman was already with the casualty. The Lifeboat was asked to standby in case lifting him from the deck of the Belgian trawler was not possible - Lifeboats are designed to make winching easy. In the end he was successfully lifted from the trawler and flown to Brighton A&E where a HEMS doctor was also airlifted in a seperate helicopter. Sadly the gentlemans hand could not be located and was presumed washed overboard.

9/11/11 22:43
The ILB was launched to investigate a small boat adrift in the river. The boat was located and secured, then a search was started to establish there was no-one in the water. With the search complete and no-one found the boat was taken to the Adur Centre and the crew returned to station.

27/10/11 17:20
Shoreham ILB was launched to a report of a small vessel approx half a mile from Shoreham Harbour. The vessel was located and it was established that it was a tender from Shoreham harbour as it had been spotted the day before floating in the harbour. The ILB towed the vessel back to Shoreham Harbour and left the vessel on silver sands before returning to station.

17/10/11 12:01
The ALB was launched to a report of a broken down cabin cruiser five miles south east of Shoreham Harbour. The 38ft vessel had suffered mechanical failure with two people on board. The lifeboat towed the boat back to Shoreham Harbour with the two on board.

13/10/11 20:00
The ALB crew had been afloat on a training exercise from 6pm and were just returning to harbour when they were tasked to attend a fishing boat in trouble off Newhaven. The vessel, based in Shoreham, had suffered a hydraulic failure and was unable to make way. With the increased speed of the new lifeboat the casualty was reached in less than 45 minutes. As the crew arrived the casualty skipper reported he had fixed the problem and was able to continue to Shoreham unassisted. The lifeboat crew were asked by Solent Coastguard to escort the vessel back to Shoreham in case the issue flared up again. The lifeboat and casualty reached Shoreham a little after 11pm without further incident.

2/10/11 13:51
The ILB was launched to reports of a capsized dinghy that had been reported to the Coastguard by the Shoreham National Coastwatch Institute lookout at the harbour entrance. Once on scene the ILB crew determined that the target was in fact a piece of foam debris in the water. With this confirmed by the NCI the ILB recovered the foam and returned to station.

1/10/11 17:16
The ILB launched to reports of an inflatable dinghy thought to be in trouble off Millionaires Row, Hove. Shortly after launching the crew were given an update that the casualty had come ashore on the beach by Shoreham power station. The crew conducted a search between the harbour entrance and Millionaires Row and found nothing that appeared to be in trouble. Confident with the weather conditions that they would have seen anyone in distress, they were stood down and returned to station.

25/9/11 16:01
The ILB was launched to a report of 2 vessels aground to the east of the harbour. The crew launched as requested but were stood down just as they left the harbour as the boats were discovered to have beached deliberately. The crew therefore returned to station.

15/9/11 09:06
The ALB was launched to a report of a vessel on fire south east of Shoreham harbour. The vessel was located, a crewman was placed on board and two of casualty crew were taken on to the lifeboat. It was the established that the fire in the engine room was a leaking head gasket and the smoke was steam. The engine was stopped and a tow back to harbour was established. The vessel was moored in the harbour with all crew left on board.

13/9/11 12:41
The ILB was launched to the reports of a capsized vessel and a person in the water, near to the lifeboat station. Once on scene the vessel was found with the 1st informant holding on it alongside the quay. It was established that no-one was seen with the vessel and thought to be in trouble. The vessel was then taken ashore and pulled clear of the water and a search commenced to confirm that no-one else was in distress. After a comprehensive search of the river from the harbour entrance to the Norfolk bridge, the lifeboat was released from service and returned to station.

9/9/11 10:12
The ALB was launched to the assistance of a small boat with gearbox failure off the King Alfred leisure centre. The stricken vessel was taken under tow and returned to the Sussex Yacht Club at Shoreham.

5/9/11 11:29
Shoreham ALB was launched to a report of a wind surfer with a possible broken collar bone 300m south of wide water Shoreham. Once on scene the person was located 10m off the beach with a fellow wind surfer walking him ashore. Due to the shallow conditions the crew were unable to assist, so the coastguard asked the crew to search along the coast line as close to shore as possible for any other persons in difficulty. With nothing found the Lifeboat then returned to station.

2/9/11 14:37
The Shoreham ILB launched to a report of a small vessel broken down just outside Shoreham Harbour entrance with one person on board. The coastguard were concerned for the person because of his medical condition. By the time the ILB had launched another vessel was already towing the vessel into the harbour. Once the ILB was on scene the crew checked over the person on board and made sure he was ok. It was decided the ILB would take up the tow and take the boat to Silversands where the vessel and person were left safe and well.

1/9/11 15:53
The Lifeboat crew were on station preparing for recovery of the ALB, when they noticed a vessel which appeared to be in distress with a person in the water clinging onto the side of it. The ILB crew launched to the incident to assist the vessel, where there were two persons on board, one a child and one an adult. The crew arrived on scene in just a few minutes but by this time both persons on board had managed to regain control of their vessel. The crew assisted in taking them ashore where they were landed safety. The ILB crew were then asked by the ALB to assist in mooring the vessel they had under tow. The crew made their way up the Adur River (west) where they assisted in bringing the vessel to their mooring.

1/9/11 15:35
Shoreham ALB was launched to a report of a vessel taking on water with three persons on board 3/4 of a mile south east of Shoreham Harbour. Once on scene a crew member was put on board the boat to investigate the water leak. It was established that it was a raw water engine cooling pipe. The engine was stopped and the vessel’s bilge system removed the water. With no more water being taken on board, a tow was established to Shoreham Harbour, where the vessel was taken up river and put on its mooring at the Surry Hard with the assistance of the Shoreham ILB.

1/9/11 12:25
The ILB was launched to the assistance of a small yacht in distress, south east of the harbour. The vessel was located and towed to safety.

1/9/11 11:05
The ILB was launched to a broken down power boat around 1 mile south of the power station. The vessel was quickly located and towed back to the safety of the harbour

31/8/11 15:17
Shoreham ILB was launched to the reports of 2 people in the water in the river Adur. After Launching it was established that the 2 persons were clinging to a vessel near to the Norfolk Bridge. On arriving on scene it was observed that 1 person had managed to climb aboard the vessel and was holding on to the other one to prevent her from being swept away in the current. Shoreham ILB was bought alongside the vessel and both people were assisted onto the Lifeboat where their conditions were ascertained. No ambulance was required and the casualties requested to be taken ashore at RopeTackle. On route to Ropetackle the casualties informed the ILB crew that they had been sitting in the inflatable dingy when it got carried away in the current. At this point the dingy sunk beneath them leaving both of them in the water. Once at RopeTackle the casualties were handed over to local coastguard mobile units and Shoreham ILB was released from service and returned to station.

26/8/11 15:39
Shoreham ALB was tasked to a broken down speed boat approximately 6 miles south of Shoreham Harbour. Once on scene a tow was passed and the vessel was towed its berth at Brighton Marina.

21/8/11 17:15
Shoreham ILB was launched to assist a sailing vessel which had reported mechanical failure. The first reported position of the casualty was ½ Nm south of Shoreham harbour but as we proceeded in that direction our attention was drawn to a vessel in-between the break water rocks just to the west of the boathouse. Once we had established this was the correct vessel we then towed the casualty clear of the rocks and breakwaters into deeper/safer water and then to the Sussex Yacht Club visitors mooring.

20/8/11 16:19
While afloat on exercise the ILB was tasked to attend reports of a possible boat on fire near Emerald Quay. The crew asked SCG if they required a salvage pump and were asked simply to attend to see if there was in fact a fire - as a false alarm was suspected. The ILB attended and checked all vessels both within the Emerald Quay marina as well as either side. East Sussex Fire & Rescue were also in atttendance. Liasing with ESFR it was discovered that it was caused by reflections of the sun in the water lighting up a vessel hull and appearing to be flames. Call declared a false alarm with good intent.

17/8/11 14:48
The ILB was launched to a reported drunk casualty in the river swimming from the Waterside Public house to Shoreham high street. Once on scene found casualty safe on land but well under the influence and still drinking. He as confirmed as the casualty and that no assistance was required. The Coastguard mobile unit then took over the individuals needs and the ILB retrurned to station.

8/8/11 02:29
The ALB was launched to a major incident mid channel involving a 35’ sailing vessel and a trawler. An apparent collision had resulted in the dismasting of the yacht. Newhaven’s all weather lifeboat was also tasked. The disabled yacht was taken under tow and returned to Shoreham where it was put through the locks into the canal.

7/8/11 13:29
The ILB was launched to a broken down 18’ vessel off the power station. The vessel was located and towed to Emerald Quay for recovery by trailer.

4/8/11 14:50
The ILB was launched to 2 small vessels tied up under the Toll Bridge up the river. One had suffered engine failure, the second vessel had been attempting to tow it to safety and had then also broken down. Both vessels were taken under tow and taken down river to their mooring near the Norfolk Bridge.

3/8/11 19:33
The ILB was launched to a small sailing vessel in distress just inside the harbour entrance. The crew launched and discovered 5 inexperienced people aboard the vessel. 3 were taken into the ILB and brought back to the Lifeboat Station. The crew then returned to the dinghy and towed it to a point of safety. With the occupants now safe the Lifeboat collected the 3 people from the station, re-united them with their craft and assisted them in pulling the vessel clear of the water.

3/8/11 19:29
The ALB was just returning from a training exercise when they were diverted to a broken down water skiing boat south of the power station. As the vessel had come from Brighton, and tidal conditions made re-housing the Lifeboat now impossible at Shoreham, the vessel was towed to Brighton Marina. The crew then returned to Shoreham, with recovery to the boathouse becoming possible again a little past 10 o’clock that evening.

2/8/11 16:30
The ILB was launched to a broken down vessel 4.5 miles south of Shoreham Harbour. The craft was taken under tow and returned to Shoreham.

31/7/11 20:00
The ILB was launched to assist a speedboat that had broken down in the River Adur. The boat was towed to it’s berth.

20/7/11 07:31
The ILB was launched to assist with the recovery of a human body from the canal. The crew attended but the body was successfully recovered by the Police.

9/7/11 16:57
The ALB was launched to a 37' sailing vessel about a mile off Shoreham. The boat which was on charter had suffered a broken main halyard and engine failure. The ALB crew towed the boat to Shoreham and the ILB was then launched to assist due to the strong winds. Once the vessel was safely moored inside the canal the 2 lifeboats returned to the station.

4/7/11 16:37
Both boats were launched following the fatal air accident at Shoreham. The ILB was sent up the river to search for potential wreckage. The ALB was deployed out to sea to do the same task along the shoreline. Both boats searched their respective areas thoroughly before being returned to station.

3/7/11 07:33
The ALB was launched to a fishing vessel stranded off Worthing having lost power. The boat with 2 persons aboard was taken under tow towards it's home port of Selsey. During the tow the casualty's skipper made contact with a friend and arranged for another Selsey based vessel to take over. The lifeboat handed over the tow off Bognor Regis and returned to station.

2/7/11 14:00
While providing safety cover for the 'Paddle round the Pier' event, the ALB was tasked to attend a 25' power boat with a fouled propellor.
The vessel was located and towed to Brighton Marina where it is normally berthed.

27/6/11 20:18
The ILB was launched in response to a report by Sussex Police of teenagers tombstoning near the boathouse. The crew launched and searched the entire river, but were unable to find any trace of tombstoners. Having established that no-one was in need of assistenace the crew were stood down.

27/6/11 18:48
The ILB was launched to reports of a swimmer in difficulty off Worthing. As the vessel arrived on scene the swimmer had made it ashore and was being attended to on the beach by ambulance personnel, so the crew returned to station.

18/6/11 14:30
In winds gusting up to 25 knots the ALB was launched to a small sailing vessel which had been driven ashore on the beach near Carats Café. The yacht, with 2 persons aboard, was in danger of being lost on the rock groins on the beach. Using the deployable 'Y-boat' 2 crew members went ashore into the surf with a towline. Despite the steep surf they got the line ashore and then, with the assistance of passers by, secured the line to the casualty vessel, which was then towed off the beach without further damage. The 2 crew members then relaunched the 'Y-boat' into the surf and cleared the beach before both boats returned to the harbour. The casualty vessel was locked through into the canal.

18/6/11 13:30
While preparing to launch on exercise the ILB crew observed an 8m power boat in difficulty in the harbour entrance. A line from the vessel's bow had fouled the propellor and the boat was being driven onto the harbour arm, despite efforts by the crew to hold it off. One person on board was dangling precariously over the bow attempting to free the line. With the wind gusting to more than 25knots the ILB crew launched the lifeboat immediately on the authority of the Operations Manager and reached the vessel in just a couple of minutes. With a crewman in the water they managed to free the line from the casualty's propellor, and then escorted them back to their mooring up river.

3/6/11 15:27
The ILB was launched to reports of a person in the water to the west of the harbour. After the crew had launched it became clear that the casualty had been a jetskier and had been rescued by his colleagues, abandoning the craft. As the lifeboat was already underway the crew retrieved the jetski and towed it back to the harbour.

28/5/11 14:47
In strong westerly winds the ALB was launched to a windsurfer in distress off Worthing Beach. He had been under observation by the Worthing beach lifeguard team but the conditions made launching their own RIB to him hazardous. However, as the ALB was making way to the scene he was blown ashore and assisted by the beach lifeguards on the shoreline.

22/5/11 11:00
On rehousing after an exercise the ALB was tasked to a report of a windsurfer in difficulties with a broken rig, just outside the harbour entrance. The 1st informant was reported to have the casualty in sight. The lifeboat reached the scene but could not see a windsurfer in difficulty. The Coastguard reported (from 1st informant) that the casualty had made his way to shore, so the lifeboat returned to station.

21/5/11 14:02
The ILB was launched to a broken down boat near the harbour entrance. The craft was towed back to its mooring.

21/5/11 04:58
The ILB was launched to a vessel aground in the river. The boat with three persons aboard had just been collected by the new owner and was preparing to go the Newhaven. It had run aground near emerald quay and was laying over in its side. The occupants were taken off and back to the boathouse. At the same time the almost submerged hull of a small tender was spotted in the harbour entrance. The wrecked hull appeared to have been pushed or washed off the shore at high water. It was towed back the Silversands in the river. The ILB crew re-launched around mid day to assist the owners of the original craft as it re-floated.

12/5/11 17:04
While on an assessment exercise the ILB crew were called to a kite surfer in trouble, Once along side him he said he had his lines tangled around his legs but was able to swim. He was holding onto the kite that was giving him buoyancy and swimming slowly to shore. The ILB by until he was safe ashore and continued their exercise.

7/5/11 18:35
Both boats were launched to search for an overdue rowing boat with 3 people aboard. The vessel had been bought the day before and the 3 occupants had set off to row from Brighton Marina to Worthing. They were last seen at around 14.30 at the Power Station and then reported missing and overdue some time later. The ILB was tasked to perform a shoreline search to the west, as far as Splash Point, Worthing, while the ALB searched further offshore. In addition Brighton ILB were tasked to search to the East of the harbour, and the Coastguard Rescue Helicopter from Lee-on-Solent was also sent to carry out a wider area search. The ILB searched round to the west of Worthing Pier, then back again along the shoreline with nothing found. This included placing a crewman ashore to interview beach users. The ILB then searched both harbour arms, inside and out, the inner harbour and up river as far as the footbridge, examining any craft thought to be possibly the casualty. With nothing found the ILB was stood down and returned to station. Meanwhile the ALB continued to search up to 5 miles out to sea at the request of the Coastguard. As this search was carrying on the persons were found safe and well at home by the Police, having given up the row and made shore to Hove earlier in the day. All the search units were therefore stood down and returned to station.

4/5/11 15:48
The ILB was launched to the reports of a body in the water in the River Adur. Whilst proceeding towards the location a report was received that a person in the water had been recovered onto a vessel at the Sussex yacht club visitors pontoon. Once on scene it as discovered that the person was being treated by an ambulance crew and a doctor who was also on scene. At this point it was established that the vessel had originally contained three persons onboard, and with two being accounted for the third being the skipper was left on his vessel. The crew then proceeded to the vessel to assist the skipper. At this point the ILB crew were informed that the vessel had become entangled by a mooring line and was secured to the sea bed by its propeller. The crew of D647 detached the vessel from the mooring line and with a strong ebb tide a decision was made to transfer the skipper back to the pontoon and take the vessel back to its mooring within the canal. D647 left one crewman onboard in command of the vessel whilst the skipper was transferred to coastguard and police on the visitors pontoon at the yacht club. After making sure that the ILB was no longer needed to assist with the casualty, the crew returned to the yacht and placed a second crewman onboard to assist with the return of the boat back to his moorings in the canal. Once through the locks the vessel was assisted to the berth by shore crew and the ILB crew.

2/5/11 16:13
The ILB was launched to a report from Shoreham National Coastwatch Lookout of a windsurfer that had been down in the water for about 10mins. Once launched the ILB contacted NCI who informed them that the casualty was last seen appox 200 yards from shore. The crew followed the directions and spotted a windsurfer close inshore swimming with his kit. Once along side the windsurfer who was now able to stand up in the water, the crew established that he was the intended casualty, and having discovered he was unharmed and did not need further assistance the crew returned to station.

29/4/11 20:06
Both boats were launched in the middle of a violent thunderstorm to search for 2 individuals in an inflatable thought to have been swept away from the shore. After conducting a thorough search in driving rain and very poor visibility, the pair were located ashore having managed to row in and the lifeboats returned to station.

27/4/11 20:00
While returning from exercise the ALB was diverted to a windsurfer in distress near Sea Lane Ferring. The surfer was located but managed to make it to within wading distance unaided. On the way back to Shoreham the crew were tasked to attend another windsurfer in distress off Worthing. A search was carried out but no casualty was located, so the crew were stood down.

26/4/11 14:02
The ILB was launched to a Mirror dinghy being rowed by 2 persons about 1.5 miles south of the West Pier in an offshore breeze. The boat was towed back to the beach.

24/4/11 20:20
The ILB was tasked to a small open cabin boat almost aground and adrift near the Old Toll Bridge. With as little as 18 inches of water at times the crew located the vessel and took it under tow, despite at times being able to walk next to both vessels in barely knee deep water. With the benefit of the crews' local knowledge it was possible to negotiate the shallows and tow the boat to its mooring near the Norfolk Bridge where the three occupants, who had borrowed the boat from a friend, were attended by the mobile Coastguard unit.

24/4/11 20:03
The ILB was tasked to a small bilge keeled sailing vessel reported to be stuck under the Norfolk Bridge at Shoreham on a fast ebb tide. On arrival the crew found the vessel well aground with the persons in wading depth and securing their vessel to a mooring with the aid of an inflatable dinghy. Having assessed all was well and no persons were in danger the ILB was re-tasked to another boat adrift further up river.

23/4/11 17:32
The ILB was requested to launch to the assistance of a 17 foot speedboat at anchor with four persons on board. The craft had suffered a flat battery due to a flooded engine. Once launched D647 proceeded towards the casualty's reported position (just to the West of West pier, Brighton). On route it was established that a local coastguard who had been at sea upon another boat had located the vessel and had begun to tow it towards Shoreham, but still required the attendance of the Lifeboat to take over the tow. When on scene D647 took over the tow and took the vessel to the Sussex Yacht Club visitors berth to await transfer by the owners to the vessel's proper berth once the tide permitted.

16/4/11 14:45
The ILB was tasked to reports of a red flares to the west of Shoreham lifeboat Station. The Coastguard requested we launch to search the area and help to pinpoint where the flare had originated from. After placing a crew member on the harbour arm and talking to a number of river users, it was possible to ascertain that the flare had been launched from inland very near the lifeboat station and not out at sea. The lifeboat was therefore stood down to return to station.

16/4/11 12:17
Shoreham ALB was launched to a 23 foot angling vessel in a position approximately 25 miles southwest of Shoreham Harbour In the southwest bound shipping lane. She had suffered mechanical failure and was in danger of being run down in the restricted visibility on scene. A survey vessel was operating in the area and took the casualty vessel under tow and pulled her clear of the shipping lane. Shoreham ALB located the vessels 21 miles south of Shoreham and took over the tow to Brighton Marina. When on the return passage to Shoreham Harbour there was a report of a red flare being sighted, the ALB was tasked to assist the ILB with the search for the source of the flare. However she was very quickly stood down when the information that the flare had originated in land was received.

15/4/11 20:20
The ILB was asked to launch and standby within the river Adur as there was a report of a female in a state of distress near to the Norfolk Bridge accompanied by police officers who were trying to negotiate with her. Shortly after launching Solent Coastguard stood the ILB down as the police officers had successfully got the female to safety.

3/4/11 14:49
The ALB was launched to investigate a small fishing boat found at sea with clothing and food aboard. The engine was still warm but the lack of an occupant suggested someone may have been lost in the water. On arrival the crew discovered the owner had abandoned his boat at anchor to go fishing on another vessel. Suitable advice was given and the Lifeboat returned to the harbour.

22/3/11 14:43
The ILB was launched to a person in the water up the river Adur. The 65 year old casualty had been rowing a small tender which had capsized, and had been in the water for at least 20 minutes with no lifejacket. He had been struggling against the tide until being assisted by a passing canoeist. He was taken aboard the lifeboat and transferred to an ambulance near the Adur Recreation Centre.

20/3/11 00:15
The ALB was launched to a disabled 11.5m yacht around 6 miles west of Shoreham. The vessel, with 2 persons aboard, had become becalmed and suffered engine failure. The crew had been at sea for some time and were extremely fatigued. They were bound for Brighton marina. The yacht was taken under tow by the Lifeboat and towed to Shoreham, where other members of the Lifeboat crew helped get it through the locks and into the safety of the canal to await repairs.

14/3/11 10:30
The ILB was launched after abandoned clothing was found on the beach at Portslade. The boat was tasked to search the immediate area for a possible person in the water. Nothing was found and the crew were stood down after the initial search.

24/2/11 19:16
The ALB was launched to a fishing vessel 12 miles off the harbour with an injured crewman. The casualty was initially reported as having suffered a heart attack. With the increased speed of the new lifeboat the crew were alongside the casualty vessel in a little less than 30 minutes. The crewman was assessed and found to have had a fall and suffered chest injuries. At the request of the coastguard, and in difficult sea conditions, he was taken on to the lifeboat and brought back to Shoreham, where he was transferred to an ambulance and taken to hospital for treatment.

12/2/11 13:02
The ILB was launched to a person in the water to the west of the harbour. The casualty, a canoeist, had come out of his canoe and was unable to get back in it at sea. A passing boat had rendered assistance but the sole occupant was unable to get the casualty aboard. The ILB crew brought him back to the Lifeboat Station and then returned to sea to retrieve his canoe. Apart from being cold and tired, he was unharmed.

4/2/11 10:19
The ILB was launched after reports of a bather that had gone missing. After conducting a search from the footbridge back to the harbour entrance, the person was located safe and well ashore and the search called off.

25/1/11 20:45
The ILB was launched after a woman was seen entering the water to the east of Worthing Pier, in an apparent attempt to take her own life. Despite initially trying to avoid rescue, she became exhausted and was recovered into the lifeboat by the crew, one of whom entered the water to assist. She was then quickly taken ashore and carried up the beach to a waiting ambulance.

23/1/11 13:06
The ALB was launched to a boat taking water and with engine failure about 2 miles south of Shoreham. The crew were taken aboard the lifeboat and the source of the water ingress identified and solved. The vessel was taken under tow back to Shoreham where the occupants were re-united with their boat and towed through the locks by a local fishing vessel.