THE St Peter Port lifeboat has bucked a trend set by other RNLI regions. While UK crews experienced their busiest summer ever with increased launches in most areas, the Spirit of Guernsey was called out the same number of times as last year.
It responded to seven emergencies in June, July and August, identical to 2005.
Harbour master and lifeboat operations manager Captain Peter Gill said it was impossible to say why there had been an increase in callouts overall because it was almost impossible to compare one area or year with another.
‘It’s very difficult to pick a trend, it doesn’t work like that. You have to look at 20 years to see if there’s any trend. About half the incidents ‘in Guernsey’ related to fishing boats, in a very broad sense, and the other half yachts, excluding the missing diver ‘Matthew Harvey’ and the sinking of the Ece,’ he said.
Last year the St Peter Port lifeboat was called out to a total of 23 incidents.
But the number of callouts during the year is not the same as the number of incidents recorded because other boats are sent to assist when possible.
‘Up until 12 September, the lifeboat crew has attended 21 out of 39 incidents. If there is a different means by which to help, we don’t waste the valuable resource of the lifeboat. If another boat is nearby, we will call upon it to assist but, of course, if it ‘ the lifeboat’ is needed, we will send it. It’s a case of using your judgement,’
‘It looks like it will be a busier year than last year overall but with a bit of luck it won’t be called out again before the end of the year,’ said Captain Gill.
He said a report was prepared after each incident to ensure the safety of the crew and to make any improvements to rescue attempts.
‘After every event somebody will go down there and talk each one through and thank the crew. But they don’t need motivation, they go out and do it because they know it’s the right thing to do.
‘We have a coastal review in a few weeks’ time to give a complete overview asking questions like do we have the right kind of boat and coverage, but it’s looked at on a national basis. You have to take a holistic view,’ he said.
Article posted on 28th September, 2006 - 12.00am
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