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Larne Lifeboat Station News and Fundraising Events

LARNE LIFEBOAT SEA CHECK INFORMATION

RNLI Sea Check

Boating should be fun. Every year our lifeboats respond to thousands of incidents, many of which could have been prevented with simple safety precautions. Even the most experienced seafarers should prepare for the worst.

Book a Sea Check Today

Larne RNLI offers you FREE a Sea Check on your boat. This is a confidential service that looks at the safety aspects involved with your boat, this check is not a test, inspection or survey and there is no pass or fail. One of our highly trained volunteers will meet you on board your own boat; you set the time and place and we tailor our visit and advice to the type of boating you do. So what have you to lose? Nothing, other than an hour or so of your time. What have you to gain? A free independent safety check of your craft and a sticker for your craft to show it has completed a safety check by the RNLI. What is in it for the RNLI? You will have helped the RNLI in its core activity of saving lives at sea. It does not mater where you live in the UK or Ireland this service is available to anyone who goes to sea in almost any craft FREE. SO WHY NOT CHECK IT OUT TODAY? CONTACT:

LARNE LIFEBOAT STATION 028 28274490 SAM MOODY Lifeboat Sea Safety Officer 07896 328141 Email: s_moody@sky.com

Previous News and Fundraising Events

Larne's ILB Hannahbella Ferguson (D-646) was officially placed back on station at 2030hrs on the 20/7/06.  The lifeboat makes a welcome return to her hoe station after being withdrawn for repairs when she was damaged whilst out on a shout on the 2/5/06.

Relief ILB Catterick (D-610) covering at Larne during Hannahbella Ferguson's absence returned to her base at Swords as relief IB1 for the Irish based fleet.

As well as having a stall in attendance at the Magheramorne Boat Club Open Day Larne's RNLI volunteers also staged a demonstration search and rescue exercise which formed one of the high points of the day's activities.

The Inshore Lifeboat was tasked to assist a 'disabled' boat but when the ILB arrived on scene one of the persons onboard,, played by an ILB crewmember, had jumped overboard in an attempt to swim to shore but had got into difficulty in the water.

With the people still aboard the boat in reasonable safety, the ILB went first to the swimmer and landed her ashore into the care of the local coastguard and St John's ambulance service which demonstrated to onlookers the various lifesaving techniques used in the event of a swimmer being picked from the sea in a real emergency.

The ILB then returned to sea and towed the disabled boat back to shore landing the remaining people on board safely back onto dry land.

Pictured right from top to bottom: The ILB locates the swimmer in difficulty and prepares to bring her aboard.  The ILB crew assist coastguard and St John's Ambulance personnel stretcher the swimmer ashore.  St John's Ambulance staff treat the swimmer after her rescue.

A collection at Belfast's Forestside Shopping Centre during a family fun day on the 10/6/06 raised a magnificent £1001-00 for Larne Lifeboat Station.  Many thanks to those who gave generously and to those who were able to get along to help out with the collection.

Larne's Trent Class Lifeboat returned from refit at Noble's Boatyard, Girvan and officially went back on station on Friday the 9/6/06 at 1800BST.  After providing valuable relief cover during Dr John's absence, Windsor Runner departed Larne on the 10/6/06 for Malahide where she went back on stand by to cover any overhauls or unforeseen breakdowns in the RNLI's Trent class lifeboat fleet.  During her month long service at Larne, Windsor Runner had responded to two emergency calls.

Pictured right: Windsor Runner on exercise at Larne on 28/5/06.  Photo: Aubrey Dale (click to enlarge)

Both of Larne's lifeboats have been temporarily replaced by relief boats. 

To allow Larne's Trent Class All Weather Lifeboat to retire for her scheduled interim refit a crew from Larne Lifeboat Station travelled to Malahide to pick up her relief boat Windsor Runner.  The relief lifeboat arrived at Larne on the 8/5/06 at 1730 while resident lifeboat Dr John McSparran was busy at sea on a shout.  The lifeboats later met at 1800 when Dr John McSparran returned to Larne.  The two vessels spent the following couple of days berthed bow to stern at Larne before Dr John McSparran departed for refit at Nobles Boatyard in  Girvan on the 12/5/06.

D Class lifeboat Hannahbella Ferguson was also stood down from service to undergo repairs to damage sustained during a shout on 2/5/06.  Hannahbella Ferguson has gone to Cowes and is temporarily replaced by D-610 Catterick, which arrived at Larne Lifeboat Station on the 13/5/06.

Dr John McSparran on a previous visit to Girvan on 15/4/05. Photo: Aubrey Dale

Larne's relief all weather lifeboat Windsor Runner was out on exercise with a Puma helicopter from RAF 230 Squadron based at Aldergrove.  Various winching exercises were carried out with the lifeboat crew and the RAF crew during a thorough exercise in the North Channel.

230 Squadron is not a dedicated search and rescue team but they do train for all eventualities and the Larne Lifeboat crew were only too happy to assist with their training.

Up and away, the Puma's winch used in high line configuration lifts up one volunteer during the exercise with Larne lifeboat on the 11/5/06

One of the Puma's crew landed on the lifeboat's aft deck.

Larne station's ALB boarding boat was out assisting RfD testing life rafts at Larne Harbour on the 9/5/06.  The boat acted as safety boat for the operation and helped recover the rafts after testing.

Pictured right is one of the rafts being dropped from a crane into the harbour.

This has recently taken place and the total looks like a terrific
£2,139.10. Many thanks to those who co-ordinated, collected and of course contributed. We were very lucky with the weather this year which may have helped but it is the continuing effort by our faithful collectors and of course the Larne, Islandmagee and Ballygally people which we appreciate very much. Thanks to all.

Six Larne Lifeboat crewmembers and one friend of the station took part in the gruelling 26 mile course of the Belfast marathon to raise funds for the station.  Five of the group completed the course as part of a relay team while the remaining two (Dave and Moore) were competing as individuals.  Their sponsor money is still rolling in so stayed tuned for an update on how much the team raised.  Well done to all who took part.

Pictured right is the Larne Lifeboat Belfast Marathon runners: In shot left to right: Paul Knox, Moore Campbell, Pamela Dorman, Derek Rea, Martin Agnew, Willie Evans and Dave Somerville.  (Click photograph to enlarge)

Larne station's new D-Class lifeboat Hannahbella Ferguson was officially named at East Antrim Boat Club on the 22/4/06.  Read more here

Right: Hannahbella Ferguson at sea after her naming ceremony on 22/4/06

A fun night was had by all with everyone going home with full stomachs after a great night at the Highway's Hotel.

Larne Lifeboat Dr John McSparran renewed acquaintances with the Royal Navy search and rescue team HMS Gannet based at Prestwick in Scotland.  Equipped with a Sea King helicopter the team participated in various air lift exercises with Larne Lifeboat's crew volunteering their services to help out.

Pictured right (top photo): Lifeboat crewmember winched up by the Sea King helicopter.

Bottom photo: Sea King hovers close to Dr John McSparran

Below: Just prior to the exercise the Sea King touched down at Curran Point just south of Larne Harbour.  Helicopter and lifeboat crew are busy making ready while Captain Gerry Hughes of Larne - Fleetwood ferry Stena Seafarer and Port of Larne's Safety manager David Henderson have a look over the helicopter.

This proved to be quite a challenge so many congratulations to Mrs Tillie Johnston who sent in the only correct entry. If you are reading this, Tillie, your prize should be with you very soon!!

Many thanks to the folks at RFD who donated £500 to Larne RNLI funds.

Pictured right: Dr John McSparran assisting RFD life raft launching tests from P&O ferry European Mariner at Larne on 1/2/06.  Read more here

Olderfleet Primary got into the act by having a Save our Soles Day which raised £200 for lifeboat funds.  Many thanks to all who took part!

The kind members of 1st Islandmagee Presbyterian Church raised £260 for Larne branch RNLI.  Many thanks for your generosity.

Local ferry company operating in and out of Larne Harbour, P&O Irish Sea, donated £500 to lifeboat funds.  Many thanks!

The total raised was £2,450.00 and the Branch thanks all those who took part and helped in any way. The official handover of the "big" cheque is still to be organised and we hope it will be very soon.