First call for Margate’s new lifeboat and a new helm appointed – all in one

As Margate’s lifeboat station has made the transition to operating its new B class inshore lifeboat (alongside the existing D class inshore lifeboat) long-serving crew member Keith Patrick has been training for the role of one of the station’s helms. After several months of hard work, the lifeboat set out yesterday evening (Wednesday 9 June) for his final assessment hopefully to be passed out by Area Lifesaving Manager Allen Head.

All was going according to plan when UK Coastguard alerted the lifeboat to assist a vessel in difficulty off North Foreland. It was quickly located by the new Margate lifeboat; assistance was provided and the lifeboat returned to station where after a routine debriefing Keith learned that he had passed his assessment so as well as becoming the latest helm at the station has the distinction of helming the first service call for the B class lifeboat.

Derek Amas, Lifeboat Operations Manager, Margate RNLI said: ‘It was a baptism of fire for Keith being thrown into a situation which was not part of the plan and testament to the hard work that he and all the crew have put into developing their roles. It was particularly pleasing that the rescue tasking had a happy ending marking the first service call for the new lifeboat.’

Photo 1: Keith Patrick at the helm during his pass out – behind Keith (L-R) Margate crew members Chris Banham and Sam Peterkin. (RNLI Margate)

Photo 2: Margate RNLI's D class and B class lifeboats (RNLI Margate)

Notes to editors

· Margate lifeboat station has been operating since 1860. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/margate-lifeboat-station

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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 over 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and, in a normal year, 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 142,700 lives.

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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