Skills boost for three lifeboat volunteers
THREE volunteer crew members from Fowey lifeboat station have increased their skills, passing out as qualified operational mechanics, trained for duty on the station’s Trent class all-weather lifeboat.
The three crew members are Steven Harris, who has been an allweather lifeboat crew member with Fowey RNLI for four years; Graham Middlewood, who is inshore lifeboat and all-weather lifeboat crew trained with five years of service in Fowey; and Nat Wilkinson, who is also inshore and all-weather lifeboat crew with four years of service.
Operational mechanics provide vital cover for the lifeboat – the allweather vessel cannot put to seawithout a duty mechanic onboard.
As mechanics, they are trained to start and stop the boat, manage emergency procedures and deal with minor defects in the engine operating machinery. While at sea, the mechanic is responsible for fire safety and fire emergency procedures, rectifying minor mechanical problems and ensuring that equipment is running safely.
Commenting on her time with Fowey RNLI, Nat said: “I’ve been able to take opportunities to learn new skills, and have developed an interest in furthering them, both with the RNLI and in my day-to-day life.”
The training took around 18 months, with slight delays due to Covid restrictions. Lifeboat operations manager Chris Ogg said: “The mechanic is an important role on a lifeboat; as with any large ship, it can’t go to sea without a mechanic onboard.
“Nat, Graham and Steven have all worked hard and applied themselves well in training.”