HM Coastguard tasked LNR Monday 2nd May at 16:00 to reports from a member of the public that 2 sit on top kayakers were in difficulty just off Coney Island. Ardboe Lifeboat quickly launched and located the 2 casualties and brought them into Maghery where they were handed into the care of the Local Coast Guard team. Other than suffering the effects of the cold they were unhurt.

Thursday 14th April at 9.50pm – HM Coastguard paged LNR to immediate launch readiness due to a diverted aircraft making an emergency landing at Belfast International Airport. LNR was stood down at 10.10pm after the aircraft landed safety.

Friday 1st April at 12:15pm – HM Coastguard paged LNR and requested to launch and proceed to Rams island where 5 young adults were stranded due to deteriorating weather conditions. Both Ardboe and Kinnego lifeboats boats arrived at Rams island and the casualties were brought on board the Ardboe lifeboat and taken safely to shore at Crumlin marina where LNR had a land vehicle (Lima Romeo 1) waiting along with a coastguard vehicle to transport the 5 persons back to Antrim marina via land. Both lifeboats returned to base at 2.00pm, fueled and ready for service.

LNR were paged by Coastguard at 13:15 to a report of a boat that was broken down and lost. Reports placed it somewhere in the SE corner of the Lough. Kinnego Lifeboat located the vessel with one person and one dog onboard north of rams island and took them to Crumlin Marina where they were met by Lough Neagh Coastguard team.

LNR were tasked by PSNI to assist with a missing person search on the river Bann. LNR lifeboats and flood team assisted alongside other agencies over the weekend.

Saturday 2nd January @ 14:15 – LNR Flood Team was called out on their first call out to the Portadown area to assist a women who needed assistance due to the access road being flooded. Teams from Kinnego and Ardboe where on scene and assisted the lady. Teams back in base at 18:00 hrs.

Belfast coastguard tasked LNR @ 16.37 as concerned council staff had not received an check in call from their warden on Coney Island. Ardboe Lifeboat was tasked to the island and Kinnego Lifeboat was tasked to sweep the shore on route to Coney Island. Ardboe Lifeboat was quickly on scene where crew spotted the wardens vessel tied up at its mooring. Crew then proceeded to the house on the island and were relieved that the warden was fine and that it was just that his communications had failed and due to the bad weather during the day he didn’t have the chance to make the boat trip to the mainland to check inn. Both Kinnego and Ardboe lifeboats were stood down and returned to base.

HM Coast Guard paged All LNR units at 20:20 to proceed towards Belfast International Airport on the eastern side of the Lough as an aircraft had experienced difficulties and was making an emergency landing at Belfast International Airport.
All 3 lifeboats from Ardboe, Kinnego and Antrim along with the reserve lifeboat Support 1 were launched as well as the new emergency response vehicle.
As lifeboats made their way to the eastern side of the lough, HM coastguard informed LNR that the aircraft had landed safely and all lifeboats where to stand down.
All lifeboats and vehicle returned to base.

News Story

HM Coastguard paged Antrim Bay Lifeboat at 18:54 to a 18ft motorboat just off the torpedo platform in Antrim Bay which had suffered engine failure with 4 persons on board. Antrim Bay Lifeboat was quickly on scene, secured a line and towed boat back to Antrim Marina. Lifeboat back in station at 19:36

HM Coastguard paged and tasked both Ardboe & Kinnego lifeboats @ 16:35 to a yacht in difficulty around Tolans sound area. Ardboe lifeboat spotted the yacht just of the Skane Flat and began to tow the vessel. Kinnego lifeboat arrived on scene and Ardboe handed the tow over to them as the yacht was berthed at Kinnego marina. Vessel was safely moored back at Marina. 2 Persons Assisted.

At 20:20 HM Coastguard tasked both Ardboe & Kinnego lifeboats to reports of 6 persons on board a small speed boat taking on water in Kinnego bay. Both boats quickly launched and while on route were stood down as casualty vessel had made it safely to shore and all were safe and well. All lifeboats returned to base.

HM Coastguard paged LNR at 11:35 to a 30 ft motor cruiser in difficulty around 3 islands area of Toome bay. Ardboe Lifeboat quickly launched to that area with the assistance of Antrim Bay Lifeboat. Kinnego Lifeboat was put on standby. Unable to spot the vessel in that area Ardboe lifeboat extended their search area. Vessel was then found with 2 persons on board drifting close to rocks north of O’Neills flat. The vessel was then put under tow and safely brought to Antrim Marina as conditions were deteriorating with a strong east wind. Lifeboats returned to base at 13.20.

HM Coastguard paged Antrim Bay Lifeboat at 21:26 to a 27 foot motor boat that had got disoriented going into Antrim Bay. The vessel was quickly located and a crew member was put on board the casualty vessel to pilot the boat back to Antrim Marina.
Lifeboat back in base at 21:55.

HM Coastguard paged LNR at 17:02 to a 16 foot motor boat at Toome bay that had suffered engine failure. Antrim Lifeboat first on the scene assisted the casualty vessel until Ardboe Lifeboat arrived and towed the vessel and its crew back to Ballyronan marina. All crew on board were safe and well.
Lifeboats back in base at 18:30.

Coastguard paged Antrim Bay Lifeboat at 14:50 to reports of a 16ft motorboat with engine trouble. Antrim Lifeboat was quickly launched and located the casualty vessel 500 yards off the Antrim shoreline. The boat was secured under tow and brought back to Antrim Marina. The one person on board was safely brought to shore.
Lifeboat back in base by 15.10.

Coastguard paged Antrim Bay Lifeboat at 19:35 to reports of a 30ft boat having lost engine power around the mouth of the Sixmile Water. Antrim Lifeboat quickly launched and located the casualty vessel. The boat was secured under tow and brought back to Antrim Marina jetty. All 3 persons on board were safely brought to shore.
This was the first official callout of Antrim Bay Lifeboat. The board and members of LNR would like to congratulate the Antrim crew on a very quick and professional rescue.

Coastguard paged LNR at 16:02 to a Cruiser Broken down off Hog Park Point.
Both Ardboe & Kinnego lifeboats were quickly launched. Kinnego Lifeboat towed the vessel back to Gawleys Gate where they were met by the Lough Neagh Coastguard team. Lifeboats returned to base by 17.10

Coastguard paged LNR at 13:24 to a stranded vessel out of Doss bay. Both Ardboe & Kinnego lifeboats were quickly launched. Ardboe lifeboat was quickly on scene to a 20ft Shetland boat with 3 persons on board. The vessel had outboard motor problems. Kinnego Lifeboat was stood down and Ardboe Lifeboat proceeded to quickly tow vessel and crew back to a local fisherman’s quay where the vessel was moored. Lifeboats returned to base by 14.31.

HM Coastguard tasked LNR at 10:30 after a request from the PSNI to assist in a missing person search around the Gawleys Gate area. Kinnego Lifeboat while making its way to the scene spotted and recovered a person from the water. They returned the casualty to Kinnego Marina along with Ardboe Lifeboat where they were met by Coastguard & the casualty was transferred into the care of NI Ambulance staff. Both lifeboats then returned to base.

HM Coastguard paged LNR at 20:40 to a boat broken down outside Gawleys Gate. Kinnego Lifeboat was launched and located the vessel. It was towed into Kinnego Marina. No Medical assistance was required.

HM Coastguard tasked LNR at 11.50 to reports of a vessel which lost propulsion in the Toome Bay area having believed to have struck something. Ardboe Lifeboat was launched to north of Wisener Rock and spotted the vessel with one person on board drifting into shallow water. Once on scene crew checked the vessel was watertight and a member of the crew remained on board with the casualty and the casualty boat was towed to Ballyronan marina where a member from the local Coastguard team assisted the casualty.
Ardboe Lifeboat returned to base at 13:15.

HM Coastguard was contacted at 18:27 by a vessel with one person on board that had run aground 1/4 mile outside the Battery Harbour and had visual of the Ardboe Lifeboat Station.
Ardboe lifeboat was launched and quickly had the vessel under tow back to the Battery harbour where the vessel was tied up. The casualty did not require any medical help.
Ardboe Lifeboat stood down at 18:50.

While on routine training tonight at 19:50, Support 4 Flood/swift water rescue boat was carrying out an exercise around the Ballinderry River mouth when they came across canoeists on shore that seemed some what distressed. Shore crew and the boat crew went to check all was well when they discovered one male person to be suffering with hypothermia and not responding well. Crew quickly alerted Coast Guard and an ambulance was dispatched to the location. While waiting, crew treated the casualty. Ardboe lifeboat was requested on seen to assist with medical help and provided a stretcher. The casualty was then brought across woodland to the waiting ambulance and handed over to the paramedics.
All boats and crew returned to base.

HM Coast Guard tasked Lough Neagh Rescue at 18:00 to a vessel taking on water approx 4 miles east of the Battery Harbour with one male on-board. Lifeboats was quickly launched and proceeded to the general area. Ardboe Lifeboat located the vessel north west of the church flat. The crew then proceed to stem the intake of water and bilge the vessel. The casualty was taken on-board Ardboe lifeboat and the boat was towed back towards Kinnego Marina where the casualty and boat was transferred over to Kinnego Lifeboat boat and taken back to the Kinnego Marina.

Belfast Coastguard paged LNR at 12:10 to a report of an overdue rowing boat with a man in his 90s onboard. Visibility at the time was very bad due to thick fog. LNR launched Ardboe and Kinnego Lifeboats but as a search got underway, the man was located safe & well by family & a coastguard rescue team. All boats where returned to base and stood down.

HMGC paged Lough Neagh Rescue @ 18:30 to put all boats on standby as a inbound commercial aircraft on its way from Glasgow to Belfast City Airport was being diverted to Belfast International airport due to an engine fire. All crew and boats where but on immediate standby. Thankfully the aircraft landed safely and all 88 passengers where evacuated from the aircraft with no reported injuries. All lifeboats where stood down at 19:00 hrs.

HMGC tasked Lough Neagh Rescue @ 12:35pm to Antrim Bay / Six Mile Water to search for a missing man last seen in the Six Mile Water vicinity. Both Ardboe and Kinnego lifeboats along with the assistance of the new Antrim rescue team conducted a search for man. Over 30 crew searched the water and nearby lake for a number of hours. Soon after the search was called of as the man had be found safe and well. All lifeboats returned to base.

HMCG paged LNR @ 04.50am and tasked both Ardboe & Kinnego lifeboats to an incident on Coney Island were it was believed to be in excess of 20 persons stranded on the island as there ferrying vessel had left and hadn’t returned. Ardboe Lifeboat first on scene established there was over 30 people on the island many of which had tents to keep themselves warm and dry but at least 11 persons were very cold and fatigued. Both lifeboats ferried casualties to shore at Maghery and handed them into the care of Lough Neagh coastguard team. Both vessels returned to base. 06.30 hrs.

HMCG paged LNR @ 10.19am and tasked Ardboe lifeboat to a broken down 12 ft vessel with 2 casualties & 2 dogs on board whom left Coney Island on route to the Upper Bann river. Ardboe lifeboat quickly on scene couldn’t see the casualty vessel immediately and expanded their search. The vessel was then spotted approx 1/2 mile NE drifting after it had struck rocks at Reedy Flat. The 2 casualties and dogs were transferred to ALB & vessel secured for tow. They made their way to Maghery slip were they were met and handed into the care of the Lough Neagh Coastguard team. Our crew also assisted in the vessel recovery onto dry land.

HMCG paged LNR at around 03:50am this morning to a report via a 999 call of a vessel reporting that they were lost on the Lough with five persons on board. LNR Lifeboats from Kinnego and Ardboe launched to conduct a full search of the lough. Shortly after the search began the police helicopter spotted a vessel in the Antrim Bay area and directed Ardboe lifeboat to its location. The casualties were found and transferred to Ardboe lifeboat. Both the casualties and their vessel were brought back to shore safely into the care of the Lough Neagh Coastguard team. The casualty vessel had been lost for some time before the alarm was raised. We thank all involved for such a quick multi-agency response. Both boats stood down and returned to base.