RNLI Rescue Four After Barge Hits Houseboat

Strong tides near Hammersmith Bridge blamed

The RNLI lifeboat crew from Chiswick were launched to the rescue this Tuesday (12th August) after a narrow boat collided with a houseboat moored at a River Thames pier in Hammersmith.

The lifeboat crew, based at Chiswick RNLI station in Corney Reach Way, launched at 2.42pm to assist the four person crew of the narrow boat, Alesha, after she became breached across the bows of another vessel, named Amethyst.

The incident is just the latest in a strong of similar cases in the last year where vessels have been caught out by the strong tides sweeping round the bend of the river just above Hammersmith Bridge.

Fortunately all four people aboard the Alesha were unharmed – they were taken aboard the lifeboat and landed safely on Dove Pier, where they were deemed not in need of any medical assistance.

Peter Knight, helmsman of Chiswick RNLI lifeboat said: ‘We put a lifeboat crew member aboard the stricken vessel to set up a tow line then we towed it clear of the moored boat. The narrow boat was then secured at Dove Pier with assistance from a vessel from the Port of London Authority, Driftwood II

‘It appeared that the crew on the narrow boat were caught out by the strong incoming spring tide sweeping round the outside of the bend and gusting winds which caused the high sided vessel to broach sideways into the moored houseboats. Although the casualty vessel is 70ft long our E-class lifeboat, Dougie and Donna B has more than adequate power to tow it away against a current over four knots.

‘Fortunately the people were uninjured and no other craft or river users were at risk.’

The lifeboat crew consisted of Peter Knight, Glen Monroe and Luke Dillon.

Chiswick RNLI lifeboat is one of three London lifeboat stations, and is the second busiest in the entire RNLI in the UK and Republic of Ireland. Since starting service in 2002 they have attended more than 2,200 incidents and rescued over 1,200 people.

August 14, 2014

Video Footage of Rescue