Carrybridge RNLI Celebrate Tier 2 Passout Success And Two Helm Revalidations
Carrybridge Lifeboat Station is proud to announce that one of its volunteer crew members, Douglas McFarland, has successfully completed his Tier 2 passout. During this visit Kyle Boyd also successfully completed his Helm Revalidation as did Chris Cathcart who completed his during an earlier visit.
The passout and both revalidations were conducted by Sean Ginnelly, Coastal Lifeboat Trainer, who had travelled up from Achill Island to conduct the assessments on behalf of the RNLI.
The passout, conducted on Tuesday of this week, both ashore at the Lifeboat station and afloat on Upper Lough Erne lasted three hours and rigorously tested the volunteers’ skills across a wide range of operational areas. Tasks included towing, man overboard procedures, emergency drills, helming, maritime theory, and other essential lifesaving skills.
This final passout represents the culmination of many years of intensive training with Douglas having logged hundreds of hours in afloat exercises, hands-on sessions, and active service calls in all conditions.
The new revalidation process requires helms to be reassessed every five years on various command activities both ashore and afloat to ensure safe operations of the lifeboat.
Carrybridge RNLI continues to train volunteers in various roles, both afloat and ashore, to the highest standards as part of its mission to save lives on Lough Erne.
Chris Cathcart, Volunteer Lifeboat Training Coordinator noted, “I am very happy with the time and commitment taken by Douglas who has reached this milestone on his lifeboat journey. Douglas completed his Tier 2 tasks to a very high standard during their final passout, and I wish him every success in their further progression. I’d also like to congratulate Kyle on a very successful helm revalidation carried out ashore and afloat today. The level of command witnessed today is a credit to his ability.”
Stephen Scott, Lifeboat Operations Manager at the station says, “I’d like to thank Douglas on successfully completing his passout. We are very fortunate to have a really dedicated volunteer crew at our station and I’m delighted that today we celebrate Douglas reaching this significant landmark. Chris and Kyle both play a pivotal role in the station at Carrybridge as Lifeboat Training Coordinator and Lifeboat Trainer Assessor respectively when it comes to teaching our other crew and I’d like to thank them for the many hours of work dedicated to training others. All RNLI crew train to an extremely high level and devote a lot of their time to our charity.
Ends
Photo Detail: Left to right: Douglas McFarland (ILB Crew), Sean Ginnelly (Coastal Lifeboat Trainer), Chris Cathcart (Helm/Lifeboat Training Coordinator) and Kyle Boyd (Helm/Lifeboat Trainer Assessor)
Photograph credit: Stephen Scott Carrybridge RNLI
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The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around Ireland and the UK. The RNLI operates 10 lifeboat stations in Northern Ireland and in a normal year has 11 lifeguarded beaches which it operates seasonally. 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, the charity has saved over 142,700 lives.
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Stephen Scott, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI Ireland, 07786228968, [email protected]
Chris Cathcart, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI Ireland, 07595895908, [email protected]
Nuala McAloon, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Ireland, 087 648 3547, [email protected]
Niamh Stephenson, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Ireland, 087 125 4124, [email protected]
Ciaran Dixon, RNLI Communications Placement on [email protected]
RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]
Key facts about the RNLI
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.
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