Yachting Monthly – September 2019

QCritical to a lifeboat ‘shout’ is for the

RNLI to ensure that the correctly trained

crew respond to the call for help and the

appropriate lifeboat attends to the vessel

and those aboard who require help.

Q‘Having launched the lifeboat, HM

Coastguard will try to establish radio

communication with the vessel and ask

where the craft is located, repeating the

question so there are no misunderstandings,’

continues Matt. ‘The crew should be reading

the information off the GPS to ensure the

lifeboat is directed to the correct location.

Initially, the lifeboat and the Coastguard

will be in communication using a separate

radio channel.’

Q‘The lifeboat will then move to Channel

16 in order to talk directly to the vessel in

distress,’ explains Seb. ‘VHF is so much more

than a communications channel. We’ll keep

the crew aboard the yacht talking because it

will give us an accurate direction-finding

function to locate the vessel.’

QIn the case of a crew member who has

been knocked overboard, time is critical

when trying to reach the injured person. This

situation will invariably involve both the RNLI

and a Coastguard helicopter. As Matt

explains, ‘Dependent on the severity of the

incident, HM Coastguard have 10 helicopters

at their disposal covering the entire UK

capable of doing both maritime and inland

mountain rescues, which is managed by the

Aeronautical Rescue Response Centre

(ARCC) in the National Maritime Operations

Centre (NMOC). If the situation demands

it, a communication channel can be

established between the rescue services,

the distress vessel and a hospital doctor

who will provide expert advice over dealing

with the injured crew member.’

QWhere someone is still in the water, the

Coastguard helicopter is responsible for

transferring that crew member to a hospital.

Meanwhile, the lifeboat will draw alongside

and make fast lines to the vessel. RNLI

members will then go aboard and check

on the crew. If there is a functioning engine

it will be used to take the boat back to port.

If not, then the sails will be lowered and the

vessel taken in tow by the lifeboat.

LOOKING AHEAD

Future-proofing the RNLI’s

systems is a cornerstone

of the work the charity

undertakes, linked with

HM Coastguard. Seb

outlines the opportunities:

‘On the horizon is an electronic aid for locating a vessel on a plotter and passing

vital rescue information electronically so it appears automatically on a digital screen

aboard the lifeboat. Also, there is the transmission of vital CCTV information, such

as the state of the weather, to the Coastguard Operations Centre to help while

coordinating rescue activities, while we are constantly looking at ways lifeboats

can be launched quicker through speedier paging of crews. Overall, it is essential

to ensure the safe arrival of crew members at the lifeboat station, especially in

poor weather conditions.’

For leisure sailors, it is gratifying to know that should HM Coastguard and the

RNLI’s professional and expert rescue service be needed, it is on call 24/7. In turn,

the RNLI work tirelessly to research and implement new ways to save lives through

innovation, data analysis and new technology.

Our thanks go to Seb Pinkard (RNLI) and Matt Leat (MCA) for their help with this article

THE KNOWLEDGE

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Shannon-class Mersey-class Atlantic 85

The RNLI and HM Coastguard

work together constantly to

hone their response protocols