Lifeboat launches to 50th call-out 20/6/14
Leverburgh RNLI lifeboat clocked up its half century call-out with a search for kayakers
on Friday night.
The lifeboat launched after concerned observers saw two kayakers apparently capsizing
in the Sound of Harris.
They dialled 999 to alert the coastguards and the lifeboat sped to the scene.
After a search the kayakers were located and found to be safe and well.
It appears they were undertaking some capsizing drills which were mistaken as an
emergency by onlookers.
The incident marks the 50th time the lifeboat from RNLI Leverburgh has been called
out since the station was established in May 2012.
The need to coastal gap around Harris and Uist was rammed home by a trial lifeboat
being called out to double the number of maritime emergencies than previously expected
with 17 incidents in its first 12 months.
The crew of 17 men and one woman of Leverburgh lifeboat are on 24/7 standby to speed
to any boat in trouble.
The next nearest stations are at Stornoway, Portree and Barra and they took time
to get to the Sound of Harris area where Leverburgh is situated.
Leverburgh has a Mersey class lifeboat, The Royal Thames. The RNLI is going to replace
the Mersey class lifeboats with the new Shannon class and therefore Leverburgh may
in due course receive a Shannon boat. It costs on average £4,100 a week to operate
an RNLI all-weather lifeboat station.
The cost of setting up Leverburgh station was £90,000 with annual running expenses
around £135,000.
The charity relies on donations to cover its costs.