Pollution control specialist DV Howells were called in and successfully removed all fluids, oils and fuels from the stricken craft without spillage. All the lifeboat's loose equipment and valuable navigation electronics were carefully removed and safely stowed ashore.

The mobilisation of personnel and specialist equipment to such an inaccessible site proved especially challenging in the prevailing conditions. Heavy pieces of equipment such as the lifeboat's engines and gearboxes were removed to reduce the vessel's weight and thus assist its removal from the foreshore.

Robert Wynn & Sons engineers were also called in to assist. Following discussion with the RNLI and other Agencies, a plan was agreed to recover the vessel. The operation would involve pulling the Katie Hannan from the rocks and then carefully winching it in to the flooded hold of Wynn's 80m long specialist transport barge 'Terra Marique'. The unique Damen-built vessel is designed to semi-submerse, allowing smaller vessels and project cargoes to float in and float out. The operation, whilst complex, was agreed to be the most appropriate way forward.

The recovery operation commenced on a high tide some two weeks after the original grounding, with the 17m long lifeboat being pulled by a tug from the rocks and a winch line attached from the Terra Marique. Within an hour of the Terra Marique starting to submerge, the Katie Hannan was safely within its hold

Terra Marique transported the lifeboat to Babcock Marine's facility at Plymouth, where the Katie Hannan was offloaded and now awaits a full structural survey which will determine if can be repaired and put back into service.

George Rawlinson, head of coast operations for the RNLI said, 'The recovery operation from Rathlin Island was made even more challenging by its remoteness. The RNLI is very pleased with the successful outcome and, in particular with the performance of the Robert Wynn and Sons ro-ro barge, the Terra Marique, which during the conduct of the operation has proved to be the most versatile and capable vessel.'