Ascension : NEW ISLAND LIFEBOAT
Submitted by The Islander (Gavin Yon) 25.12.2003 (Article Archived on 08.01.2004)

The visit of the last MOD vessel saw the arrival of the Island’s first dedicated lifeboat.

      (Pictured above with the new lifeboat: Mal Moss, Sqn Ldr Mark Pattinson, Phil Thomas, Andrew Kettlewell and Lawson Henry)

The visit of the last MOD vessel saw the arrival of the Island’s first dedicated lifeboat. The boat is brand new and was manufactured in the UK by Delta Power Systems Ltd, who include the Irish Coastguard, RNLI, the Royal Navy and several other foreign governments amongst their clients.

The boat is a 7.4m RIB, fitted with specially designed twin 90hp Post Immersion restart Mariner engines giving a top speed of 30 knots and allowing launching by crane. The lifeboat is fitted with a host of technical equipment, including self-righting mechanism, radar, gps and communications equipment.

Specialist operational training is being provided both in the UK and Ascension through the assistance of Mal Moss of Serco. The lifeboat will also be fitted with four inflatable towable life rafts (illustration below), which are designed to be used in the event of an aircraft landing at sea. These rafts have been purchased by the MOD, who also shipped the lifeboat to Ascension at no charge to AIG.

The lifeboat will be primarily operated by the AIG Fire and Rescue team however, there will also be a multidisciplinary team, including RAF and Serco personnel who will be fully trained in the use and operation of the boat and sea rescue techniques.