River Canal Rescue is warning boaters of the dangers of
navigating the Ribble Link following call-outs to free grounded or trapped vessels.
Recent rescues include a boat perched precariously
on five metal boulders on the bend at Savick Brook in Preston and a craft stuck
high above the banks of the River Ribble at the entrance to Savick Brook and
the Ribble Link (following travel from the Rufford Arm).
RCR managing director Stephanie Horton comments: “The
grounding of a boat on the metal boulders was reported by CRT staff who asked
us to attend and advise on the situation. The customers later explained that while
travelling down the Ribble Link they ran out of water which they believed was due
to a leaking lock gate. This delayed their progress which meant as they got to
the Savick entrance the tide was already running.
“Due to the height of the water they were unable to pass
under the bridge to travel down Savick Brook and the water pushed them back
towards the bank. They took emergency action and tied their boat to a tree.
Unbeknown to them – due to damaged marker poles – they were resting on bollards
for the bend; something which only became apparent when the tide started to
recede.
“Our emergency crew attended at 6pm and advised the owners
to leave the boat for their safety. Having secured the vessel, our engineers
returned at 10.30pm to keep watch and wait for high tide at 2am. This refloated
the bow and extra manpower was used to release the stern as the tide was not
high enough. The vessel was moved and moored for the night on the lower pontoon
for the lock. We recommended a lift out and inspection for hull damage as soon
as possible.”
A second rescue involved customers being mislead by the high
tide which covered the bank. As they travelled across it they became grounded
leaving the craft literally ‘high and dry’. The boat was at risk of tipping and
unlikely to be refloated at high tide, due to the height of the bank it was grounded
upon.
Steph continues: “Using a tractor and one of our rescue
vehicles we manoeuvred the boat off the bank and onto the mud so it could be
refloated with the midnight high tide. We then arranged with the RNLI to escort
it up the Ribble Link, ensuring it arrived safely at the lock. While in many
cases rescues cannot be avoided, you can reduce the risk of an incident on this
journey by taking the following precautions; on preparing to enter Savick Brook from the
Ribble, always line yourself up before entering , according to which way the
tide is running. This will vary, but never cut the corner or try to swing in to
it. On entry from the Lancaster Canal, if the water is low or there are any
concerns, call CRT and ask them to confirm you’re ok to continue. If you are
worried, moor up and wait for the next crossing. This is too dangerous a route
to take chances on - both boats were extremely lucky to come out of these
incidents unscathed.”
The CRT advises permission should be sought before
undertaking the journey and asks boaters to check with the sea lock to confirm
travel up Savick Brook is allowed. It
also suggests a mobile is left on and within hearing range.
Steph concludes: “Boaters often describe their crossing as
an ‘exciting challenge’ however those who recently had to call upon us to free
them from groundings are likely to have other adjectives for their experience.”
In its 2015 Guidance Notes the Canal and River Trust says
there are strong tidal flows on the Ribble Link and asks boaters not to cut
corners, particularly on the western side of the Savick Brook entrance where
there are sandbanks. It advises there are areas of shallow water over marshland
hiding submerged walls and suggests boaters keep within the markers and adopt a
central position in the estuary.
