New Quay RNLI crew in training
New Quay RNLI Lifeboat Station conducted a successful joint training evening with the Her Majesty’s Coastguard with both inshore and all-weather lifeboats taking part using the Coastguard’s SAIRS equipment and RNLI’s SIMS system.
New Quay RNLI crew took part in a specialised search and rescue training exercise in the early evening on Wednesday 20 June 2018. Working in partnership with Her Majesty’s Coastguard, different rescue scenarios were given to the crew using the coastguard’s SAIRS equipment, with the Coastguard also using the RNLI’s SIMS (Servowatch Ships Information Management System), in Milford Haven so each team could see how the other works.
SARIS is an integrated Search and Rescue (SAR) planning tool, incorporating both Search Area Determination (SAD) and Search Area Coverage (SAC) which is used by coastguards, navies and port authorities all over the world.
Bernie Davies, the New Quay RNLI Lifeboat Mechanic said, “It is vital that we work closely with the Milford Haven Coastguard Operations Centre and have regular training with them.
“In this training session, the Coastguard gave us a man overboard scenario and gave us a search pattern to follow. We then input the details to our systems on the boat and followed the search pattern. The Coastguard then requested a screen shot from the ALB (all-weather lifeboat) plotter to see what we did.
“It's all about working together and giving the Coastguard an appreciation of how difficult it can be to set up and follow a search pattern when bouncing around in a small boat with spray all over you.”
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.
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