MEMBERS of New Quay RNLI Lifeboat Station conducted a successful joint training evening with coastguards using the all-weather lifeboat they are in danger of losing.

Different rescue scenarios were given to the lifeboat crew using the coastguard’s SAIRS equipment, with the coastguard also using the RNLI’s SIMS (Servowatch Ships Information Management System) in Milford Haven so each team could see how the other works.

SARIS is an integrated search and rescue planning tool, incorporating both search area determination and search area coverage which is used by coastguards, navies and port authorities all over the world.

Bernie Davies, the New Quay RNLI lifeboat mechanic, said: “It is vital that we work closely with the Milford Haven Coastguard Operations Centre and have regular training with them.

“In this training session, the coastguard gave us a man overboard scenario and gave us a search pattern to follow.

“We then input the details to our systems on the boat and followed the search pattern. The coastguard then requested a screen shot from the ALB (all-weather lifeboat) plotter to see what we did.

“It’s all about working together and giving the coastguard an appreciation of how difficult it can be to set up and follow a search pattern when bouncing around in a small boat with spray all over you.”

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