North Berwick RNLI trial new launch and recovery vehicle
Volunteers at North Berwick RNLI have had a trial vehicle for the launch and recovery of the charity’s D Class Lifeboat SUNIJO since June, with the trial now extended over the winter.
The vehicle, called a ToolTrak, is a compact rubber tracked, crawler-based tool carrier for use in marine environments. Designed by Loglogic, for operating on extremely soft ground such sandy beaches it is perfectly suited to the shifting sands of the launch sites used by North Berwick RNLI.
Duncan Barbour, volunteer Shore Crew Trainer Assessor at North Berwick said: ‘This vehicle is much better suited to our needs than our old agricultural tractor. Although the crew and public loved it, unfortunately the salt water was constantly taking its toll on the mechanics of the tractor.’
‘The ToolTrak is designed to operate in the harsh conditions of the beach. Fully marinised it allows us to drive into the water so that our volunteers can drive the lifeboat off the trailer during launch, saving precious time during an emergency call out.’
Area Operations Manager, Henry Weaver said ‘The RNLI is constantly reviewing the suitability of assets at our lifeboat stations. After a successful first trial, we have extended the trial over the winter to will give us an idea of how the ToolTrak handles the changing beach conditions at North Berwick and ensure we have the best possible assets based at the station.’
‘I’d like to say a big thank you for the hard work and commitment from the volunteers at North Berwick. Outside of core training hours along with RNLI staff, they have ensured that they are fully trained and capable of operating the ToolTrak.’
‘As you might expect from a tracked vehicle, this has required specialist training to drive, in part as there is no steering wheel, just a joystick, but also due to different tidal and beach conditions.’
Notes to editors
- In 2024 RNLI lifeboats from 238 stations across the UK and RoI launched 9,141 times saving 437 lives (alongside RNLI lifeguards), North Berwick launched 28 times, saving 7 lives.
- It cost £1,400 a year to train each crew member in the lifesaving skills they need to answer the call for help
- 97% of the RNLI’s frontline lifesavers are volunteers including over 5,700 lifeboat crew members.
- In 2024 it cost the RNLI £190M to run its charitable lifesaving service, 6 in 10 of the lifeboat launches were funded be generous supporters leaving the RNLI a gift in their will.
RNLI media contacts
Matthew Gibbons, Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer, North Berwick, [email protected]Richard Smith, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]
Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]
24 hour RNLI Central Press Office, 01202 336789 or email [email protected]
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.
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