Selsey Lifeboat Station - Launches
26th August 2013
Unexploded Ordnance
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Both Selsey lifeboats launched at about 09:30 to evacuate their boathouses due to unexploded ordnance in the close vicinity of the lifeboat station.
An unexploded 500lb WW2 bomb was discovered by a diver on Saturday 24th August and, after being verified by RN Portsmouth Ordnance Disposal Team on Sunday 25th August, an excavation, removal and controlled explosion was planned for Monday 26th August. Before excavation commenced, both Selsey lifeboats were launched as a precaution and stood off at a safe distance. The ordnance was safely excavated after being supported in an inflatable bag and it was towed to a position approximately 1.5 nm ESE of Selsey Bill. Both Selsey Lifeboats acted as guard vessels and maintained a 700m cordon around the bomb until it was successfully detonated at 12:15.
After confirming that the device was inert, permission was given for the cordon to be collapsed and both boats were released to return to station; 'Betty and Thomas Moore' rehoused at 13:00 and 'Voluntary Worker' at 13:30.
AWL CREW: G.Mellett (Coxswain), D.Lamdin (2nd Coxswain), P.Pitham (Mechanic), M.Gilligan, C.Sergeant, Z.Belcher, A.Lee.
ILB CREW: R.Archibald (Helmsman), G.Pearce, D.Langford.