RNLI crew jumps ship after sacking of skipper

ONE of the world’s oldest lifeboat institutions has found itself riven by dissent, with one of its branches splitting away from the organisation to set up a rival.

The St Helier crew on Jersey has taken the step after walking out in protest at the sacking of its skipper. The move will be the first time in the RNLI’S 193-year history that a crew has taken such drastic action.

A tumultuous few months for the St Helier station began when Andy Hibbs, its long-serving coxswain, was dismissed in April. Mr Hibbs was found to have been in serious breach of the Code of Conduct after launching a lifeboat to reach a stricken vessel without permission from the coastguard. He claimed he was the innocent victim of “a witch hunt” by the RNLI and his entire 25-strong crew walked out in protest.

That left Jersey without a dedicated all-weather lifeboat crew for several days. The RNLI sent six relief crews from the mainland to provide cover.

Three months later Mr Hibbs – a 20year veteran of the RNLI – was reinstated with a full apology, following a successful appeal, but the crew’s relationship with the charity appears never to have recovered. At a meeting on Monday night at their island HQ crew members told RNLI representatives of the intention to split from the charity.

In a statement the crew said it was looking to run the service independently.

They added they have decided to split because of the RNLI’S handling of the Hibbs row and its aftermath.