Gordon flies the flag for Dunbar RNLI at international sea rescue exchange

Gordon Kirkham was one of six RNLI volunteers taking part in the exchange, from 19 to 26 September, that involved 64 SAR (search and rescue) crew members from 13 countries at events held in ten host countries. He travelled to Saint-Nazaire in France for the week long programme last month that brought SAR professionals together from across Europe for practical training, operational visits and the opportunity to experience first-hand how other organisations prepare for and respond to emergencies at sea.

Gordon, 46, who has passed out as a coxswain, helm and mechanic during his 22 years as a Dunbar volunteer, was joined by crew members from Iceland, Poland, Germany, Norway, the Netherlands, as well as the host country’s rescue service Société Nationale de Sauvetage en Mer (SNSM).

Over the course of the week, he took part in practical exercises, operational visits, simulator training and professional discussions, developing their skills while learning from the experience of international colleagues.

Gordon, a technical training instructor for EDF at Torness Power Station, said: ‘It was an excellent opportunity to learn about things are done in other countries. There were some massive differences in how countries approach lifesaving at sea but also areas of similarity.

‘What stood out was how we were able to work together without two much coaching from our French hosts. Even though I might have been helming an all-weather lifeboat, with someone from one country working the navigation system and anther on the radar, it worked very well. It was also interesting to learn about Saint-Nazaire’s history as the German’s Atlantic U-boat base during the Second World War, which the Allies bombed during Operation Chariot in 1942. The SNSM now use part of the base for their lifeboats and training purposes.’

In an action packed week, Gordon witnessed first-hand French lifeguard training techniques, riding a jet-ski to rescue casualties, undertook a three-day afloat exercise navigating to a small island where they stayed in an old Napoleonic fort and conducted an exercise with the French military medical helicopter. He was also introduced to a French in-shore lifeboat that used hydraulic wheeled legs to drive over sandbanks and a sea drone the Norwegian lifeboat crews use to access casualties.

Gordon said: ‘In France, they have a lot of variation between lifeboats, while Norway leads the way in technology but the RNLI clearly leads the way in how it trains volunteers.’ And he added: ‘I’ve formed lifelong friendships with the people I met. It didn’t matter what country we were from we all shared the same passion and interest in maritime rescue.’

Notes to editors

· The IMRF Lifeboat Crew Exchange Programme officially launched in 2012 with eight participating countries collaborating to share maritime search and rescue (SAR) practices.

· Since its inception, more than 700 SAR professionals have taken part in the project.

· Established in 1808, 16 years before the formation of the RNLI, Dunbar Lifeboat Station is one of the oldest in Scotland and is located on the south side of the mouth of the Firth of Forth.

· Since its formation, its volunteer crews have been honoured with 12 awards for gallantry.

· It operates two lifeboats – the Trent class all-weather lifeboat (ALB) John Neville Taylor, moored at Torness Power Station, and the D-class inshore lifeboat (ILB) David Lauder, which launches from Dunbar Harbour.

· A file photo of Dunbar’s lifeboats can be viewed here.

RNLI Media Contacts

For further information, please contact:

Douglas Wight, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for RNLI Scotland, douglas[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]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]

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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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