Lifeboat Crew training on the ILB

The lifeboat crew have been receiving training from UK RNLI Divisional Assessor Training Officer Paul Taylor on the use of the new Inshore Lifeboat B889, “Elizabeth and Margaret Milligan”. Storm Eric provided some good and challenging conditions.

Pic by Tony Rive 08-02-18 Guernsey’s Lifeboat Coxswains Danny Blake (Driving) and Jason Norman together with RNLI Divisional Training Officer Paul Taylor putting St Peter Port’s Relief Atlantic 85 Rib Elizabeth and Margaret Milligan through its paces in the Little Russel during their first day’s training at Sea.
Sea conditions were rough, fuelled by Southwest winds gusting 55 mph.

Atlantic 85 Inshore Lifeboat arrives in Guernsey

The “Elizabeth and Margaret Milligan”, an RNLI B Class Atlantic 85 Lifeboat arrived in Guernsey this morning and is on trial for two years.

Capt Peter Gill, Lifeboat Operations Manager of the St Peter Port RNLI station said “We are delighted to share that our new rib has been successfully delivered. The next step is to get the crew trained and qualified to use the new equipment before it is part of our operational fleet. It’s a fantastic piece of kit which will dramatically improve our ability to keep people safe at sea in a broader range of circumstances.”

Pic by Tony Rive 19-01-19 The RNLI Relief Atlantic 85 Inshore Lifeboat Elizabeth and Margaret Milligan B-889 alongside the St Peter Port All Weather Severn Class Lifeboat Spirit of Guernsey 17-04 after being craned into the harbour.
Pic by Tony Rive 19-01-19 Some of the Guernsey Lifeboat Crewman look over the Atlantic 85 Inshore Lifeboat Elizabeth and Margaret Milligan B-889 which they will be using during a two year trial alongside our own All Weather Severn class Lifeboat Spirit of Guernsey 17-04.

Gandey’s Circus supports the RNLI

The circus is coming back to Guernsey and has very kindly invited the RNLI to collect after the performances.

We will be in need of collectors and if people help, they get 4 free tickets. Please contact Celia Allen if you are interested in collecting.

The “Spirit Of Guernsey” tasked to assist “Tubbs” 3 miles South West of Sark.

Monday 7th January 2019

1423 A call was received from “Tubbs”, a 31′ fishing vessel, that was suffering intermittent engine failure and was possibly looking for assistance.

1442 “Tubbs” engine failed completely, the vessel requested a tow to St Peter Port. As there were no suitable vessels to go to assist the fishing boat, “The Spirit of Guernsey” was tasked to tow the fishing boat.

1448 Lifeboat yellow

1501 Lifeboat at the Pier Heads bound for the casualty

1510 Lifeboat alongside casualty – establishing a tow.

1549 “The Spirit of Guernsey “arrives back in St Peter Port with “Tubbs” under tow, arrangements will be made  to repair the fishing boat’s engine by local Marine Engineers

AIS tracking courtesy of Digimap
Pic by Tony Rive 07-01-19 Lifeboat Spirit of Guernsey powers out of St Peter Port Harbour before turning south and heading to a position approximately 6 miles southeast of St Martin’s Point to rendezvous with the local 31ft motor cruiser Tubbs which had lost all engine power and needed assistance.
Photo by Tony Rive

Assistance of “Manta”

The St Peter Port Lifeboat was launched at 08:25 on Saturday 5th January 2019 to go to the assistance of a local vessel the “Manta” with 2 people on board,   The vessel had fouled its propeller on passage to Jersey on discarded fishing gear and had lost all propulsion.  As no other vessels were in the area and able to assist, the lifeboat was tasked to tow “Manta” back to St Peter Port.

The lifeboat was alongside the casualty which was 6 miles South of St Martins Point, and established a tow at 08:52, and returned to St Peter Port at 09:47.

The Spirit of Guernsey was back on station at 09:53.

Photo by Carl Bisson