Critical incident simulation practised by Walmer RNLI

Named 'Exercise Delta' and following a simulated Mayday call at 11.15pm and crew paging, the volunteers were tasked with dealing with an explosion and fire aboard a Roll On Roll Off Ferry 1.6 nautical miles off the Western Entrance to Dover Harbour and drifting due to loss of power.

Relevant personnel including UK Coastguard, the Lifeboat Operations Manager, Deputy Launch Authority, Lifeboat Press Officer, boat and shore crews were all involved in the exercise.

The tabletop exercise was held in the darkened crew room, with crews wearing head torches, to simulate a night time operation. Helms were nominated for both the Atlantic 85 and D Class lifeboats, asked to select their crews and allocate roles. A rescue briefing was held with crews plotting a course to the casualty vessel.

All relevant information concerning size of the ferry, number of passengers, search and rescue vessels already dispatched, weather and sea conditions were relayed to the crews.

The Head Launcher was given problem scenarios which required finding solutions and then briefing their shore crew. Further exercises involved dealing with local and national press enquires, triage, casualty prioritisation and evacuation planning.

Speaking after the exercise co-ordinator and helm James Evans said 'I felt that this was a very worthwhile exercise. Given the time constraints and pressures we introduced into the simulation, the crews' thought processes, decision making and explanations for these decisions were clear and focussed.'

RNLI media contacts

• Chris Winslade, Lifeboat Press Officer, Walmer Lifeboat Station 07906 623037 [email protected]

• Paul Dunt, RNLI Press Officer (London/East/South East) on 0207 6207416, 07786 668825, [email protected]

• For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789

RNLI online: For more information on the RNLI please visit http://www.rnli.org/. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI News Centre.

Key facts about the RNLI

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is the charity that saves lives at sea. Our volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service in the United Kingdom and Ireland from 237 lifeboat stations, including four along the River Thames and inland lifeboat stations at Loch Ness, Lough Derg, Enniskillen and Lough Ree. Additionally the RNLI has more than 1,000 lifeguards on over 180 beaches around the UK and operates a specialist flood rescue team, which can respond anywhere across the UK and Ireland when inland flooding puts lives at risk.

The RNLI relies on public donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. As a charity it is separate from, but works alongside, government-controlled and funded coastguard services. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824 our lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved at least 140,000 lives. Volunteers make up 95% of the charity, including 4,600 volunteer lifeboat crew members and 3,000 volunteer shore crew. Additionally, tens of thousands of other dedicated volunteers raise funds and awareness, give safety advice, and help in our museums, shops and offices.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 or by email.

The RNLI is a charity registered in England and Wales (209603) and Scotland (SC037736). Charity number 20003326 in the Republic of Ireland.

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity 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 146,000 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.