Newhaven RNLI volunteers celebrate ‘bumper week’ as mechanics get qualifications and crew member passes lifeboat assessment
The RNLI says its Newhaven volunteers are celebrating ‘a bumper week of success’ after three lifeboat crew members achieved key RNLI training qualifications.
The RNLI said volunteer crew members John and Nick qualified as Afloat Severn Mechanics for Newhaven RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat (ALB) on Tuesday, September 1.
Then, on Wednesday, September 2, long-term ALB crew member Katie passed her Tier 1 Assessment for the inshore lifeboat (ILB).
This qualification means Katie is now ‘officially competent’ to operate as lifeboat crew across both boats at Newhaven station.
Lifeboat training assessor Chris said: “Katie did brilliantly, especially considering she was assessed in rather challenging conditions. Despite being out in a moderate wind, with strong gusts and choppy conditions, Katie kept a cool head throughout. After years of service on the ALB, we are proud to welcome her as our newest operational crew member for the ILB.”
The RNLI said Katie has been a crew member with Newhaven’s ALB for eight years and is a qualified Navigator for the lifeboat. She has also been training as crew for Newhaven’s other lifeboat, the inshore D class D-890 Bill Hall. On Wednesday, Katie passed out at Tier 1 for the ILB. The RNLI said this process involves ‘a rigorous evaluation of a trainee’s foundational skills, covering essential sea safety, boat handling, and emergency procedures’.
Nick, who is a farmer in his day job, is a Tier 2 volunteer crew member and has been volunteering at Newhaven for 18 months.
Nick said: “I have a background in mechanical and electrical engineering, and I wanted to use this knowledge to support the station and lifeboats.”
The RNLI said Nick joins coxswain and station technician John in becoming qualified as Afloat Mechanics for the station’s Severn class 17-21 David and Elizabeth Acland.
John and Nick have had months of extensive station training and residential courses at RNLI College Poole, as well as many hours of self-study, to gain a thorough understanding of the Severn’s mechanical systems.
Newhaven RNLI has 27 operational crew members across both lifeboats.