Two new deputy coxswains appointed at Tobermory RNLI
Tobermory RNLI was celebrating this week with crew members Iain Malcolm and Dave Underwood being passed out as deputy coxswains following months of rigorous training and assessments.
Iain Malcolm, who has been a volunteer crew member for 14 years, and Dave Underwood who joined the Tobermory RNLI crew in 2015 both undertook a gruelling operational pass out with one of the RNLI's Assessor Trainers, former Stornoway RNLI Coxswain, Murty Campbell. The assessment included a written navigation exam followed by practical boat handling tests, a search and rescue scenario and a series of emergency situations such as a fire on the lifeboat and a man over board.
After Iain and Dave had been successfully passed out as his new deputies, Station Coxswain David McHaffie was able to remove the 'L' plate which he had placed on the aft of the lifeboat during the operational pass outs.
Lifeboat Operations Manager, Dr Sam Jones said: 'This represents the culmination of many months of training and continual assessment. Iain and Dave have not only put in hundreds of hours at sea but they have also been studying in their spare time. They should be very proud of their achievement - certainly everyone at the station is very proud of them. I'd also like to take this opportunity to thank those coxswains around the coast of the UK and Ireland who have provided us with relief cover over the last few years when David has been taking his well earned leave and weekends off. From Longhope and Lerwick in the north to Torbay in the south as well as our flank station at Oban, thank you for your support'.
RNLI media contacts
For further information, please contact
Dr Sam Jones, Tobermory RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager and Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07747601900 or [email protected]
Martin Macnamara, Regional Media Officer (Scotland), 07920 365929 or [email protected]
Gemma McDonald, Regional Media Manager (Scotland), 07826 900639 or [email protected]
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.