Terra Marique comes to the RNLI's rescue

Staffordshire based specialist shipping firm Robert Wynn & Sons responded quickly last week when they were asked to assist with the recovery of the RNLI's Portrush Lifeboat the "Katie Hannan".

The £2m lifeboat had on January 30th become stranded on rocks at Rathlin Island, nr Ballycastle Northern Ireland whilst responding to a call out. After vain attempts in the days following the incident to recover the vessel, which had now been significantly damaged by heavy seas, Robert Wynn & Sons engineers were called in to assist.

Following discussion with the RNLI and other Agencies a plan was agreed to recover the vessel, which by now had her engines and portable equipment removed. The operation would involve pulling the Katie Hannan from the rocks and then carefully winching her in to the flooded hold of the Terra Marique.

The Terra Marique is an 80m long and 16.5m wide specialist barge weighing 2211 te and is designed to semi submerse allowing vessels to float in and float out. The operation while complex was agreed to be the most appropriate way forward.

At high tide on Friday February 15th the recovery operation commenced with the 17 m long lifeboat being pulled by a tug from the rocks and a winch line attached from the Terra Marique. Within 1 hour of the Terra Marique commencing submerging the Katie Hannan was safely within the Terra Marique's hold.

The Terra Marique is now on route to Plymouth where the Katie Hannan will be offloaded later this week. Once offloaded the Katie Hannan will be inspected by marine surveyors with the hope that she can be repaired and put back in to service.

George Rawlinson, Head of Coast Operations RNLI commented

‘The recovery operation from Rathlin Island was made even more challenging by its remoteness. The RNLI is very pleased with the successful outcome and, in particular with the performance of the Robert Wynn and Sons Ro-Ro barge, the Terra Marique, which during the conduct of the operation has proved to be the most versatile and capable vessel.

Robert Wynn and Sons responded quickly to the RNLI’s request for a vessel and have made a very significant contribution to the recovery of the Katie Hannan.’

Peter Wynn, Managing Director, Robert Wynn & Sons commented

"We were very pleased that the recovery operation went to plan. The operation demonstrated the versatility of the Terra Marique and we are delighted that we could assist the real heroes of the operation, the RNLI