Lifeboat on trials

The new Swanage Lifeboat carrying out slipway trials this week.  With a very low tide , the crew were testing their new slipway.

Training with the Lifeboat Crew

The main point of last nights training was to share equipment and see how we could transfer casualties from the shore to the lifeboat.




Nick on the radio


Seeing if the Coastguard stretcher fits in the lifeboat - that worked


Lifting the stretcher from the Inshore lifeboat to the all weather lifeboat.


Tom sat watching Eastenders - well that's what we told him




Nick discovers what happens when you break something on Dave's new boat. Hopefully he will let out next week.

Show and tell with the Swanage Lifeboat Crew

For tonight's training we linked up with the crew of the Swanage Lifeboats and got a chance to see their new Shannon Lifeboat.




Kerry , Brian and Eric get a brief on the Inshore Lifeboat .


The Shannon arrives.


Kerry takes command.


Dave the new Coxswain explains the workings of the new boat to Brian , Eric and Roger.

Our thanks to the crew tonight a very useful training session , more photos tomorrow.

Swanage LifeBoat Week

Our friends at the RNLI have been fundraising all week towards their new boat and boat house, and tonight there's a musical spectacular at Prince Albert Gardens with two local favourites, firstly Jim Etherington and then the Reptiles.  Naturally enough there'll be a bar and BBQ too, so you have no excuse.

The fun continues on Saturday with more activity on Prince Albert Gardens, including the Build-a-Boat competition. (Rules: get a piece of plywood and some nails, make it look like a boat, try to row it, sink, get laughed at) and later on, the Annual Raft Race (Rules: get some barrels and nails, make them look like a raft, try to row it, sink, get laughed at.)

Coastguard Nick's Build-A-Boat entry from 2013 - we tried to deny he was anything to do with us.

In the evening there'll be more music at the amphitheatre and more beer and burgers to be had too.

On Sunday, there's a fun run in the morning, lifeboaty-type stuff at Prince Albert Gardens through the day and then the Lifeboat Service on the Pier at 7pm - well worth a visit if you've never been.

More details and times at www.slbw.org.uk

Coastguard and lifeboat deal with grounded vessel

On arrival at the forward operating base , the team spotted a drifting vessel about to hit the banjo jetty.

The team immediately deployed to assist calling the NMOC.

Both Swanage RNLI lifeboats launched along with the Coastguard deploying for a possible water rescue.

The lifeboats arrived and quickly got the vessel under tow. The two on board the boat were surprised their anchor had dragged and with the weather pushed them ashore.

Don't Dump at sea.

The cause of yesterday's incident in Swanage , when a local pleasure craft had its propellor fouled by a discarded plastic dump sack.

Not only does this cause an environmental problem but had if not been for the prompt arrival of an RNLI lifeboat seen the situation turn out very differently.

Thanks to a local diver the sack was removed and the craft carried on it trips for the rest of the day.

Climber Rescued At Anvil Point

The Swanage Coastguard Team, St Albans Coastguard Team and both Swanage RNLI Lifeboats were called this afternoon to Anvil Point.

A climber had fallen and dislocated his shoulder and was unable to get back up the cliff.

Swanage RNLI Inshore Lifeboat was 1st on scene and provided 1st aid whilst the Coastguard teams set up their equipment. A Coastguard technician was lowered taking Chris who is both a Coastguard and who's full time job is a paramedic.

Options were considered on the best method of recovery, stretcher, lifeboat or by helicopter. Coastguard helicopter 106 was training in the area and stood by for a short while whilst the climber was fully assssed.

A stretcher recovery was confirmed and the St Albans Team provided a further technician with the stretcher and successfully recovered the climber to the top of the cliff and the waiting Paramedics.

Notably both Coastguard Rescue teams had trained for this very scenario last weekend!

Queen Honours Swanage Lifeboat Volunteer

Swanage RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager Neil Hardy has been appointed MBE

The retired ferry Captain has volunteered for the RNLI since 1989 and with his huge knowledge on seafaring has always been supportive in the maritime safety world.

Lifeboat slip gone!

Popped down to the lifeboat station today to liaise with the mechanic and see how the work for their new boat house is coming on,




The digger has eaten the slipway with ease!

Climber Falls at Marmolatta Buttress

Just after midday, the Coastguard team along with both Swanage RNLI lifeboats and Rescue 106 were tasked to near Anvil Point.
The report was of a climber in difficulties and requesting urgent assistance.

The climber was on a climb below this photo but shows the area.
Rescue 106 assessing the scene. The Coastguard team set up the cliff equipment to provide cliff top safety, meanwhile the lifeboat crew had managed to get ashore and started to treat the climber.
  The helicopter crew winched the injured climber to Poole Hospital.
It appears a rock gave way which made the climber swing into a boulder injuring his chest but thankfully his safety equipment stopped him from hitting the ledge below.

Stormy times

The team were tasked this morning to near the lifeboat slipway after reports of debris being washed up. Large amounts of wood and diesel was being washed in from Peveril Point to the sailing club. The team arrived and searched the shoreline, removing any hazardous items like fuel cans or small gas cylinders.

It was soon discovered the remains were from a boat that had been towed to safety during the week and put on a mooring awaiting the owner to collect it. Sadly over night it appears the boat broke up in rough seas.

The pollution was thankfully being broken up by the action of the waves and tide with the rest of the boat being the responsibility of the owner to clear up.




The day didn't end there, this little yacht had been the focus of attention this week due to the seamanship of the owner. It's not the 1st time the owner had been rescued will colleagues in the Littlehampton area been out 4 times to him.

Well having spent a day away, the male returned to his yacht and found it just short of the pier having survived the nights storm.

Despite advice from locals he decided to head off to Poole .....well that was the plan. Crossing the bay a rope managed to get caught around the propeller and this time the owner requested assistance. Swanage RNLI inshore lifeboat launched and soon was alongside to resolve the problem. It was decided to tow the boat to Poole so Poole Lifeboat came out to take over the tow.

This is now 6 times this individual has had to be rescued.

That's why we Train!

Having only just rigged an 'after-dark' a cliff top set-up, we were faced with the real thing last night (Sunday).

The pagers went off just after 8.00pm and we were tasked to a climber, stuck on the cliff somewhere near the Anvil Point Lighthouse.

We quickly grabbed the night lighting and trailer and met the first informant at Durlston who took us to the climb area.  The incident turned out to be along the coast path, several hundred yards west of the lighthouse and inaccessible by vehicle, so we lugged the lighting, generator, stakes, 250m rope bags, sledgehammers and other assorted equipment to the site by hand.

On site, the lights were soon up and running and a double-stake holdfast installed to give a cliff technician access to the cliff edge where he was able to spot, and make contact with, the casualty.

It soon became apparent that the climber was in no immediate danger and was in fact tired and unharmed on the rocks at the bottom rather than stuck or injured half way up.  Bearing this in mind and noting the calm sea conditions it was considered easier and safer to request Swanage RNLI's inshore lifeboat to recover the climber, rather than deploy a technician over the cliff in the dark.

We continued to prepare for a cliff rescue, setting up further holdfasts etc, just in case the lifeboat was unable to recover, but it was very soon spotted rounding Anvil Point and quickly on scene.  A quick call on the radio confirmed that the casualty was on board and the boat was reversing out and it was time to pack the kit up, carry it all back to the truck and return to the station.

A Job well done, and thanks to the RNLI crew for their quick response.

There's a decision making process to go through when carrying out operations such as last night's, including whether to recover by ropes, by lifeboat or even by helicopter.   This is normally a job for the Officer In Charge -OIC- in conjunction with the Portland operations centre and other team members and we'll take a look at that process and the various factors to consider another time.

Swanage Lifeboat Week 2012

http://www.swanagelifeboatweek.org.uk

Queen's Diamond Jubilee Thames Pageant - Swanage

Swanage is providing both a gig rowing crew 

Swanage Sea Rowing Club (New Gig!)

...and the RNLI lifeboat cox for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Thames Pageant.

Rob Aggas - RNLI Swanage

Serious Incidents off Studland

With the fine weather it was not going to be long before the pagers went off and just after 4pm a report came in off 3 Kayaks in trouble off Old Harry Rocks.  Swanage Lifeboats, ILB , Rescue 106 and the IRT proceeded as best speed.

Thankfully the 3 had been picked up by passing boats so the helicopter was stood down on arrrival at Swanage and the Lifeboat and ILB  after checking all was in order returned to station.

The IRT met the 3 on the beach to take their details and check their welfare.  Condtions off Old Harrry were rough and had been to much for them.  Thankfully they were well equiped with lifejackets but had forgotten their VHF radio - a mobile phone had been used to raise the alarm and they were lucky it worked in that location.

Having finished that incident, the IRT liaised with the National Trust and found they had been busy with two medical emergencies on the beach......we then got an immediate call from Portland coastguard asking us to proceed to North end of Studland Beach, a yacht was coming ashore in the surf.

We arrived to find a 33ft yacht aground in heavy surf and concern for the single male on board.  Both
Swanage Lifeboats were launched again with the ILB arriving 1st.

The ILB crew did an outstanding job and actually got the yacht off, unfortunatley the yachts engine was in gear and had a damaged rudder - this resulted in the yacht turning 180 degrees and grounding again but broadside.

The male on board had decided to get off at this stage and came ashore to the IRT on the beach.  The Swanage Lifeboat arrived and again with some excellent skill got the yacht off, towing it to deeper water to be checked.  Thankfully no damage other than the rudder so it was towed to Poole.

But the incident did not quite end there......the male on board then became unwell so had to require some medical treatment.  Having had that, he had a short trip to Shell Bay and a lift via Poole ILB back to his yacht.  Poole ILB then took over the tow from Swanage for the final stages of the incident.

Thankfully thanks to the skill of a few, today's incidents have all ended without serious injury.

Dee - Day

Tomorrow is a very special day for one of our team and one that's crosses into new territory.

Our very own Dee is getting married tomorrow to Darren (from the lifeboat crew).  So a Lifeboat man marries a Coastguard and I think, subject to double checking the records that's a 1st for Swanage?

There is always a healthy rivalry between the Coastguard and Lifeboat and here in Swanage its one of great respect as we saw with yesterdays incident. 

So we will have a married couple in the mix .....I guess it will be like inviting the "in laws" round for dinner - slight tension during future operations??

From the team - Our very best wishes to Darren and Dee

Two airlifted at Kimmeridge

The Kimmeridge Coastguard team were in action last night after two walkers got cut off by the tide.

Rescue 106 was tasked to airlift the pair after they had been in the water for nearly 3 hours! Both Swanage Lifeboats also attended and stood by to provide safety cover.

Stay safe, plan your route and check the tides........phone the Coastguard for advice (you only pay for the cost of the call) !

Dogs, Dinner and a Car Wash.

I saw on Swanage Lifeboat's Facebook page that they have some video footage up of 'Bobby' the dog.

Also next Saturday they have two charity events planned.

The first is Charity Car Wash at Jewson's yard, Swanage 09:30-16:00 (Note: this is the time it is open, not the time it will take them to wash your car). - You pays your money and they wash your car. You pays more money and they wash it even better.

Incidentally I think the Coastguard Rescue truck needs a run over the muddy cliffs early Saturday morning and I know just where I'll be taking it for a wash at 09:30!

Jewson's Yard.

On the same day is a 'Soup and Sweet' lunch function between 12:00 and 14:00 at the Roman Catholic Hall, Rempstone Road. Tickets £5 from Corbens Estate Agents on Station Road. You pays your money and you get some Soup and a Sweet; in different bowls obviously.

All the money raised will go to their Lifejacket Appeal.