Congratulations to Mark Williams, Appledore RNLI’s newest passed out Navigator

Mark joined the Appledore Lifeboat crew back in 2007 and as with all new recruits, passed out as shore crew before moving on to become a boat crew member for both the inshore and all-weather lifeboats. Since then he has progressed to become a launch and recovery vehicle driver, all-weather lifeboat mechanic and inshore lifeboat helm. This week he became as fully passed out navigator as well.

Apart from volunteering with Appledore RNLI, for many years Mark has also been employed full time as a Senior Regional Technician involved with the maintenance for all RNLI lifeguard and lifeboat equipment including boats, jet skis and launch and recovery equipment between Clovelly and Ilfracombe.

Bob Meller, Appledore Lifeboat Operations Manager says: ‘We congratulate Mark who has passed out as a fully qualified navigator after many months of hard training. We also thank all the crew and trainers who have spent much time involved with his training and exercising, a real joint effort from the station’. Mark also thanks all those who have spent so much time helping him.

To achieve his navigator qualification, Mark had to demonstrate to an external assessor a high standard of skill using charts, radar, AIS, GPS, buoyage, passage planning, search patterns and knowledge of local waters. He has to be able to navigate the boat in all weathers including high seas, pitch dark and fog. The final assessment takes place over many hours, both in a written exam and in practise on board the lifeboat. The following day Mark’s skills were used in earnest in the second of two shouts, both in pitch dark.

Incidentally these two shouts on Wednesday 20 November were also the first active shouts where Simon McCarthy was Coxswain. Congratulations also go to Simon for successful outcomes.

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

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.