Carrybridge RNLI Celebrate Two Successful Navigator Passouts

These were conducted by Sean Ginnelly, Coastal Lifeboat Trainer, who had travelled up from Achill Island to conduct the assessments on behalf of the RNLI.

The passouts, conducted on Monday and Tuesday of this week, both ashore at the Lifeboat station and afloat on Upper Lough Erne lasted five hours and rigorously tested the volunteers’ skills. The role of ILB Navigator was introduced at the beginning of 2024, part of the RNLI's new Operational Competency Framework that went live at the same time. Ronnie and Eamonn demonstrated high standards of skill using charts, radar, AIS, GPS, buoyage, passage planning, search patterns and knowledge of local waters.

This represents the culmination of many years of intensive training for these crew members having logged hundreds of hours in afloat exercises, hands-on sessions, and active service calls in all conditions.

Carrybridge RNLI continues to train volunteers in various roles, both afloat and ashore, to the highest standards as part of its mission to save lives on Lough Erne.

Chris Cathcart, Volunteer Lifeboat Training Coordinator noted, “I would like to congratulate both Ronnie and Eamonn on obtaining their Navigator roles which were completed to a very high standard. Ronnie and Eamonn both spent a lot of time and effort over the past months preparing for the assessments yesterday and today and both are a great asset to our station.”

Stephen Scott, Lifeboat Operations Manager at the station says, “I’d like to congratulate Ronnie and Eamonn on successfully completing their passouts. We are fortunate to have a really committed volunteer crew at our station in Carrybridge and I’m delighted that today we celebrate their success. It requires a lot of dedication and sacrifice to become a navigator and having Ronnie and Eamonn achieve these milestones in their careers sets our station up with leaders for the future.

Ends

Photo Detail:

Left to right in photo one: Eamonn McManus (Navigator), Sean Ginnelly (Coastal Lifeboat Trainer) and Ronnie Heslop (Navigator).

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The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around Ireland and the UK. The RNLI operates 10 lifeboat stations in Northern Ireland and in a normal year has 11 lifeguarded beaches which it operates seasonally. 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, the charity has saved over 142,700 lives.

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For further information, please contact:

Stephen Scott, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI Ireland, 07557312663,  [email protected]

Chris Cathcart, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI Ireland, 07595895908,  [email protected]

Nuala McAloon, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Ireland, 087 648 3547, [email protected]

Niamh Stephenson, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Ireland, 087 125 4124, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [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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