Gravesend RNLI hold exercise with flanking station Southend RNLI’s Hovercraft
Sunday 17 March saw Gravesend RNLI’s Atlantic 85 lifeboat hold a joint exercise with Southend RNLI’s Hovercraft H-004 Vera Ravine just off of Canvey Island in Sea Reach at 10:30am.
Depending on tidal level many mudflats can be spotted on The River Thames and most can be seen within Gravesend’s 26 mile patch, when heading inbound Gravesend RNLI can be tasked to work with agency partners London Fire Brigade and their fire boats Errington & Tanner who are equip with mud mats as can be seen in Operation Mudlark.
Gravesend’s Thames Commander Liam Sidders said ‘When tasked to jobs outbound of Gravesend that involve needing access on mud, we’re in a fortunate position that our flanking station Southend is one of four stations with an operating Hovercraft within the RNLI.’
‘I would like to thank the team at Southend for facilitating the development of our crew today, although we are neighbouring stations it is rare we see one another on service calls due to the type of incidents the hovercraft attends, it’s training like this that enables us to get a good insight into the capabilities and operational needs of this specialist craft and build the relationship to work closely if needed.’
On completion of exercise, Olive Laura Deare II returned to Gravesend Reach, refuelled and was made ready for service at 11:53am.
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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 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 142,700 lives.
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