Members of Burnham-On-Sea’s RNLI lifeboat station have this week taken part in an unusual exercise in which 29 crewmembers in eight lifeboats met in the Bristol Channel.
The training drill involved lifeboats from Barry Dock, Penarth, Weston-super-Mare, Portishead and Burnham.
Seven of the eight lifeboats were inshore boats that are unable go to sea in rough conditions while the eighth was Barry Dock’s Trent class craft which goes out in all weathers.
Crewmembers from the smaller boats simulated a major search and were then welcomed onboard the larger boat and given a tour of the facilities.
“During a multi-vessel search, the Barry Dock lifeboat would take command of all lifeboats involved, so it is vital that they know the capabilities of each crew and are fully aware of the facilities and features of the boats that they are less familiar with than their own,” an RNLI spokesman told Burnham-On-Sea.com.
Barry Dock crewmember Dave Phillips added: “It’s important that RNLI stations come together as a wider team from time to time so that in an emergency situation we can just get on with the job in hand. Each crew member needs continuous training and these multi-station exercises are an infrequent but vital part of the training programme.”
Pictured: Lifeboats from Penarth, Burnham, Weston and Portishead during this week’s exercise pic: Nicholas Leach
