Alness volunteer takes the plunge with RNLI lifeboat training
A recently recruited volunteer crew member at Invergordon RNLI lifeboat station has had a vital part of their crew training funded by Lloyd’s Register Foundation.
John Williams (40), from Alness, travelled to the RNLI College in Poole to complete the charity’s crew emergency procedures course.
Mr Williams said he was inspired to join up as a volunteer crew member for the charity as the RNLI offers a challenge and gives the opportunity to learn and achieve so many valuable skills that you can carry through your everyday life whilst saving lives at sea.
The course sees volunteer crew being trained in a variety of crucial subjects such as how to deal with fires aboard lifeboats, how to abandon ship in the event of an emergency – with a 4m jump into water – team survival swimming, coping in a life-raft in simulated darkness, how to right a capsized inshore lifeboat, and the importance of lifejackets.
It also includes sessions on the correct use of flares, fire extinguishers and throw bags.
Mr Williams, who volunteers as a volunteer crew member, said: "The course has given me the opportunity to meet some fantastic people who have shared their knowledge and expertise with him me, along with friendship, laughter and a sense of being a valued member of the team not only at Invergordon by the RNLI as a whole."
His training took place in the Sea Survival Centre at the RNLI College, where he was joined by other RNLI volunteer crew members from around the UK and Ireland.
The training was funded by Lloyd’s Register Foundation, a charitable foundation that helps to protect life and property by supporting engineering-related education, public engagement and the application of research. The Foundation has committed to funding the RNLI’s Crew Emergency Procedures course for a second 5-year period until December 2020. This additional funding of £1.06M brings their total support for RNLI crew training to just over £2.46M* since 2008. More than 3,000 RNLI volunteer crew members have now received the training thanks to Lloyd’s Register Foundation’s funding.
Alex Evans, lifesaving training manager at the RNLI said: "We are so grateful to Lloyd’s Register Foundation for funding this vital part of our volunteer crews’ training.
"Their support is very important to us and it’s fantastic how, so far, over 3000 of our crew members have benefited from Lloyd’s Register Foundation funding this part of their training. As only one in ten of our volunteer crew members comes from a professional maritime background, the Crew Emergency Procedures course is crucial in giving our volunteers the training they need and helping keep them as safe as possible while carrying out rescues. It gives volunteers the confidence to save lives even in the most challenging conditions."
