Oban RNLI seeks new volunteer crew members

The Shannon class lifeboat The Campbell-Watson was called more than 60 times last year to aid seafarers, support coastguard teams and work with the ambulance service to bring seriously ill people from the islands to the mainland for treatment. In 2024, the crew saved two lives and brought many more people to safety.

Coxswain Ally Cerexhe is encouraging people aged between 18 and 65 who live or work within ten minutes of the lifeboat station on the South Pier to get in touch:

‘We work together as a close-knit team, ready day and night, every day of the year to help save lives at sea.

‘In this round of volunteer recruitment, we are particularly interested in hearing from people based in Oban who have good availability during the day.’

Ally continues: ‘Successful applicants who have passed a medical examination and have good eyesight and colour vision, begin their training at the lifeboat station here in Oban, by getting to know the lifeboat and the personal protective equipment they will have to wear and use at sea.

‘Initially people will go out on training exercises – often held on a Monday evening – and, after completing our crew emergency procedures course at the RNLI College in Dorset, will be issued with a pager. Then, depending on the call-out, they will join more experienced crew members on shouts.’

Reaching so-called Competent Crew stage usually takes between 12 and 18 months depending on how often people can go out on exercise and how quickly they develop their sea-going skills.

Ally says, as well as being a good team player and communicator, potential crew members should understand that the role can be physically and emotionally demanding:

‘Sometimes the taskings we go to don’t turn out the way we would want them to. As well as all the training, there’s a huge amount of support from the station and the wider RNLI to help everyone deal with any situation that we come across.

‘Our volunteer roles can also give a great sense of satisfaction. It’s amazing when we help people and have successful outcomes and get people home safe – then there’s a feeling of accomplishment. It's a good way to give something back to our community.’

People interested in applying should follow this link to our volunteering pages.

Applications close at the end of Sunday 10 August.

If you would like to be an active volunteer for Oban Lifeboat and remain on land, we would welcome new members of our fundraising and shop team. Email Fiona and Iain on: [email protected].

Notes to editors

· Picture caption: Members of Oban’s RNLI crew on the slipway South Pier beside the lifeboat station.

· Picture credit: Stephen Lawson/RNLI

RNLI media contacts

John Macgill, Lifeboat Press Officer, 07711 548672, [email protected]

Stephen Lawson, Lifeboat Press Officer, 07776 340629, [email protected]

Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]

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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