Llandudno RNLI completes another busy day of crew assessments
Llandudno RNLI completes another busy day of crew assessments
Lifeboats News Release
Llandudno RNLI is celebrating the achievements of volunteer crew members Gareth Robinson, Steve Tustin and Ralph Hughes following a successful day of operational assessments.
Gareth Robinson has completed his All Weather Lifeboat (ALB) Navigator pass-out, while Steve Tustin and Ralph Hughes both completed their ALB Tier 2 assessments. The evaluations took place last week during two scheduled training exercises and were conducted by Coastal Lifeboat Trainer Simon Bunting.
The ALB Navigator pass-out is a demanding assessment that tests the knowledge, judgement and practical skills required to guide the lifeboat safely during service. Candidates must demonstrate advanced navigation ability, including planning routes that account for tides, hazards and safe water, accurately fixing the vessel’s position, operating radar and planning effective search patterns during search and rescue operations. Navigators must also show strong situational awareness and the confidence to brief the coxswain and crew clearly throughout an incident.
The ALB Tier 2 assessment is designed to confirm a crew member’s ability to operate the lifeboat safely and confidently in challenging conditions. Candidates are assessed on their understanding of the collision regulations, navigation and emergency procedures. Practical elements include helming the lifeboat during scenarios such as a man overboard recovery, along with demonstrating seamanship skills including anchoring and towing, building on the foundations established during their earlier Tier 1 qualification.
All three crew members performed strongly throughout the assessments and were challenged in a range of realistic, high pressure scenarios designed to replicate the conditions they may face during real service. This ensures that when these skills are needed during an emergency, they can rely on their training and experience to perform effectively.
Deputy Lifeboat Training Coordinator, John Roberts says ‘Training and preparation form a significant part of life at the lifeboat station, with our volunteer crew dedicating many hours to maintaining the skills, knowledge, experience and judgement required to respond when the call comes.’
RNLI Media Contacts
For further information, please contact:
Luke Heritage, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI Wales & West, [email protected]
Claire Fitzpatrick-Smith, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Wales, West of England and Isle of Man, 07977 728 315,
[email protected]
Danielle Rush, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Wales, West of England and Isle of Man, 07786 668829,
[email protected]
The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,700 lives.
