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Newhaven RNLI volunteers pass out as inshore lifeboat helms

Lifeboats News Release

Volunteer Lifeboat Crew members Chris Glasspool and Dan Wittenberg have passed out as Newhaven RNLI’s first volunteer D Class helms.

Newhaven's D Class entering Newhaven Harbour with 3 crew

Jon Lavis

Newhaven's D Class entering Newhaven Harbour

After many months of hard work and dedicated training, Newhaven RNLI's D class inshore lifeboat has two new helms. Chris Glasspool and Dan Wittenberg passed out on Tuesday 28 and Wednesday 29 May.

The station is currently making itself ready for a two-year operational trial of a D class inshore lifeboat for use alongside the Severn class all weather lifeboat. The D class can be tasked to calls which are more suited to a smaller lifeboat - for example, to an area where the water is shallower, such as responding to casualties who have been cut off by the tide.

Chris and Dan have seven years and seven months experience between them on Newhaven's all-weather lifeboat. Over the last 18 months, they have undertaken the RNLI’s training program, both at the RNLI College in Poole and on station at Newhaven.

Chris Glasspool said: ‘The RNLI’s training really is world class and has involved going out in challenging conditions to learn the boat's capabilities, and how to manage the boat in these situations. We’ve also practiced search and rescue techniques in an inshore lifeboat. The Severn at our station is the largest lifeboat in the RNLI's fleet and it's been a real shift to adapt to the scale and manoeuvrability of the D class, but we've really enjoyed the challenge'.

‘For anyone thinking of joining us, this is such an exciting time at Newhaven RNLI. With our inshore and all-weather lifeboats, there are so many opportunities at the moment! Our crew come from all walks of life, but we are drawn together by our commitment and drive to save lives at sea.’

Dan Wittenberg, D Class Helm, said: ‘It’s been a privilege to become part of the first inshore lifeboat crew at Newhaven. The training we've received has been first class and we're really looking forward to being able to launch to different types of incidents as summer finally arrives on the south coast.'

If you think you might have what it takes to join the lifesaving crew at Newhaven, the station is recruiting for both all-weather and inshore crew. Find out more here: www.rnli.org/news-and-media/2024/may/07/volunteer-crew-recruitment-begins-at-newhaven-rnli

Notes to editors

· Newhaven RNLI was established in 1803, and covers the area from Beachy Head to Brighton. It’s a modern afloat station and operates an all-weather Severn class lifeboat.

· ALB – All-Weather-Lifeboat

· Severn Class – Named after the River Severn, the Severn class is the largest lifeboat in the RNLI fleet. The Severn can take on the worst sea conditions and comes into her own on long offshore search and rescues.

· D class – Newhaven is preparing for a two-year operational trial of a D class Inshore Lifeboat for use alongside our Severn class all-weather lifeboat.

· ILB – Inshore Lifeboat

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For more information please contact Sam Carragher, RNLI Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer on [email protected] or Hatti Mellor, National Media Manager on 01273 818012 or [email protected] or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.

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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 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.

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 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.