Second generation RNLI volunteer passes Atlantic 85 navigation assessment
Southend-on-Sea RNLI lifeboat volunteer Tyler Bonham passed out as Atlantic 85 navigator on Monday 11 August. A vital role for the station, soon it will be a requirement for all RNLI Atlantic 85 lifeboats to have a dedicated navigator.
Tyler volunteered for Southend RNLI 12 years ago aged 17 and is proudly following in his father’s footsteps. As a tier 2 crew member, first aider and hovercraft pilot Tyler now becomes the first volunteer at Southend-on-Sea RNLI lifeboat to step into the new role of Navigator under the RNLI’s new OCF competency structure.
Southend RNLI volunteer Tyler Bonham said: ‘There's a lot of time committed to the extra navigation training, my fiancé and two children have been amazing with their unquestioned full support and understanding which I really appreciate beyond words.
‘The volunteers at Southend RNLI equally are a great bunch of people giving valuable endless support and encouragement’.
Tyler passed his A85 navigation assessment under supervision of Dave Needham, (Coastal Lifeboat Trainer) for the charity. A85 navigation covers paper and electronic chart work, plotting and following courses, answering questions on the safe navigation policies, casualty scenarios and selecting the correct search pattern for different incidents and executing the correct search into practice, as well as demonstrating knowledge around the different methods of fixing the position of the lifeboat.
Could you be a RNLI lifeboat volunteer saving lives at sea. Soon Southend-on-Sea RNLI will be recruiting lifeboat volunteers. Keep a lookout on our social media page: https://www.facebook.com/southendlifeboat and website: southendlifeboat.org/
For further information please contact:
- Nigel Gilchrist. Lifeboat Press Officer at Southend-on-Sea RNLI [email protected] or 07765875300
- Hatti Mellor | RNLI Regional Communications Manager – South East, [email protected]
- For enquiries outside normal business hours, contact the RNLI duty press officer on 01202 336789
Notes to Editors:
- Southend RNLI is one of the busiest coastal stations across the UK and Republic of Ireland.
- Southend RNLI cover approximately fifteen miles of shore from Shoeburyness to Canvey and beyond.
- For more information, please visit http://www.southendlifeboat.org/
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The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates over 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and, in a normal year, more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service.
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,700 lives.
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