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Newhaven RNLI hosts European Lifeboat Crew Exchange Programme visit

Lifeboats News Release

Newhaven RNLI hosted six European lifeboat crew taking part in the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IRMF) European Lifeboat Crew Exchange Programme 2024.

A group of exchange crew visiting Newhaven RNLI standing in-front of Newhaven's Severn Class Lifeboat 17-21 'David and Elizabeth Acland'

RNLI/Laura Dennis

The Exchange Crew standing in-front of our Severn Class ALB 17-21

Lifeboat crew from Estonia, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Netherlands, and Iceland were welcomed to Newhaven RNLI on Thursday 26 September as part of their visit to the United Kingdom to get a taste of how the RNLI operates.

The exchange crew visited RNLI College in Poole and participated in Sea Survival Training, visited the All-weather Lifeboat Centre, participated in lifeguard training, alongside visiting an ILB and ALB Lifeboat Station and one of the charity’s lifeboat stations on the river Thames.

The IMRF states that a ‘key feature of the programme is to build up productive networking relationships between fellow SAR crew members in Europe, as well as develop and build new skills. The programme aims to improve maritime SAR.

Newhaven RNLI volunteers met with the European Lifeboat Crew Exchange Programme participants, who toured the station, and our Severn Class lifeboat. The exchange crew and our crew compared equipment, and shared knowledge and practice. The exchange crew also shared photographs of their individual organisation’s lifeboats and lifesaving equipment with our volunteers.

Our volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager, Roger Cohen, took part in the IRMF’s European Exchange Programme in 2013. Roger visited the Swedish Lifesaving Society’s training centre and undertook a week’s high speed navigation training.

Roger said: ‘It was a pleasure to welcome the participants of the European Lifeboat Crew Exchange Programme to Newhaven RNLI. Our volunteer crew enjoyed meeting and talking about their common bond to save lives at sea’.

The IMRF European Lifeboat Crew Exchange Programme took place from 21-28 September 2024.

Notes to editors

· Newhaven RNLI was established in 1803, and covers from Beachy Head to Brighton. It’s a modern afloat station and operates an all-weather Severn class lifeboat. Newhaven RNLI also operates a D class inshore lifeboat, which began a two-year trial in August 2024.

· 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.

· IMRF European Lifeboat Exchange Programme - enables crew members to share ideas and experiences amongst their fellow maritime SAR organisations to improve capabilities and operational best practices in a cohesive and cost-effective manner. Crew members can then bring back their gained professional knowledge and experience to their own SAR organisation.

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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.

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