
Shannon class all-weather lifeboat has returned to Pwllheli for training
Pwllheli RNLI’s Shannon class lifeboat Smith Brothers returned to Pwllheli yesterday.
Volunteer crew and RNLI staff travelled to the RNLI’s Support Centre in Poole, Dorset, to collect the lifeboat and bring her home to Pwllheli by sea.
The combination of new crew members and the requirement for familiarisation for existing crew, means an intensive period of training will be required before the lifeboat is officially declared on service. The volunteer crew members have been commended for their commitment to training whilst the station’s Shannon was supporting other operational activity.
Now the lifeboat has returned, RNLI staff are committed to working with the station to conduct regular exercises and re-familiarisation sessions to ensure the whole crew are at the peak of their skills. The D-class lifeboat is already back in action on limited service and training inshore lifeboat crew also continues.
Earlier this year, the RNLI reluctantly ended volunteering arrangements with all operational crew due to a breakdown in relationships between people at the station. It was no longer possible to sustain a safe and effective lifesaving service, so the RNLI made the difficult decision to reset operations at the station. The Shannon was reallocated to the RNLI’s Support Centre in Poole to support operational activity, whilst operations were paused at the Pwllheli station.
Two thirds of the crew reaffirmed their commitment to moving forward and a recruitment drive in the local community has been hailed a great success with many new recruits for both lifeboats, as well as shore crew.
Andy Vowell, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Pwllheli says:
‘The station has not felt the same without the Shannon class lifeboat and the fact she is now back is the first chapter in our future. The response to our recruitment drive speaks volumes about the support we have from the community, for which we are immensely grateful. The next few months are going to be incredibly time-consuming and will require a great deal of commitment from our crew, but I know they are 100% ready to getting back to what do best.”
RNLI staff will now invest time and resources to ensure new and former crew are at the peak of their skills.
Ryan Jennings, RNLI Regional Lifesaving Lead says:
'The next few months will require great deal of commitment from all our crew, as they refamiliarise themselves with their lifeboat.
‘The support we have had from local people has been overwhelming and we are grateful to everyone who has helped us reach this next stage. We’ve been heartened by our community appeal for new crew and we are now pleased we’re able to begin hands on training, supported by a team of RNLI staff.
We are confident that by working together we can now provide a sustainable lifeboat station at Pwllheli for many years to come.”
There are several different volunteer roles available at Pwllheli Lifeboat Station and full training and support will be provided to those who wish to be part of the crew. Anyone interested in joining the crew is invited to apply online at www.RNLI.org/VolRoles.
An ‘opportunity alert’ option is available to ensure anyone applying is notified when suitable vacancies are advertised. Anyone interesting in finding out more can email [email protected] for further information.
RNLI media contacts
For more information, please contact Caroline Jones, Pwllheli RNLI Press Officer on 07753397977 [email protected] or Danielle Rush on 07786 668829 [email protected] or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.
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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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
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