Emstal

The Bembridge RNLI all-weather Tamar lifeboat "Alfred Albert Williams" was launched just after midnight, in the early hours of Jan 1, 2018, at the request of the UK Coastguard to evacuate a medical casualty with a suspected dislocated shoulder from the "Kossau" which was on its way from the Antwerp area to Southampton. She was about 18 nautical miles east of Bembridge when the call came to assist the 56 year old crew member. Conditions were pretty unpleasant - F7, gusting F8 south westerly with heavy rain. With the "Alfred Albert Williams" roughly four miles east of the Nab Tower, the captain of the "Kossau" informed HM Coastguard that as the injured crew member was the chief engineer he had decided to head into St Helens Anchorage and make the transfer at anchor. The "Alfred Albert Williams" therefore proceeded back towards Bembridge and waited for the "Kossau" to anchor. On reaching the anchorage, the coaster made a number of unsuccessful attempts to anchor and so the captain decided to continue into Southampton and arrange for the injured chief engineer to be got to hospital once berthed. The Alfred "Albert Williams" returned to the offshore boathouse without the injured chief engineer and was recovered by 3.20 a.m.