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Lifeboats News Release

Putting life first – a new dawn for the RNLI in Exmouth

Date: 22/04/2008

Author: Tamsin Thomas, Divisional Regional Relations Manager

Exmouth Mersey Margaret Jean - credit RNLI volunteer Colin Watson (Credit RNLI/)
The RNLI in Exmouth are announcing three major developments today, Tuesday 22 April 2008, as plans unfold for the charity’s new boathouse. The lifeboat station is to take delivery of a Mersey class all weather lifeboat tomorrow, just a few weeks ahead of the start of the project to construct the new lifeboat station. The work will start on 6 May; eleven days before RNLI lifeguards start patrolling the town beach for the first time.
 
It’s always been planned to base a Mersey at the new lifeboat station where it can be launched by carriage into suitably deep water. However, the main buoyed channel in and out of Exmouth harbour is closing off dramatically and it’s becoming increasingly difficult to launch the existing Trent class lifeboat at low tide. As Kevin Riley, RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager at Exmouth, explains, the need for a Mersey is now paramount:
 
‘The Swashway Channel is now the last remaining access to and from the estuary, but there are no guarantees that this will be permanent. It underlines the importance of the Maer Rocks site chosen by the RNLI for its new lifeboat station, but also the need to introduce the Mersey ahead of time. This new lifeboat needs less water to operate and is built to take the bottom, so it will allow us to put to sea on low tides with less chance of damaging the hull of the vessel.
 
We also know that the whole of the Pole Sands are liable to change and indeed, they have been changing frequently. We need to plan for all eventualities and our new boathouse at Maer Rocks will mean we can continue to launch whatever happens to the channels and the sands near to Exmouth.’
 
The Mersey being stationed at Exmouth is Margaret Jean and she will remain off Exmouth Docks until the permanent Mersey for Exmouth arrives once the boathouse has been built. She was built in 1991 and is constructed from fibre-reinforced composite. She has always been based in the RNLI relief fleet, which provides lifeboats to cover at stations when their own lifeboats are off service for refits. She has launched to 111 emergencies at lifeboats stations around the country, and rescued 116 people. 
 
In another major development, the RNLI has now awarded a contract to the civil engineering and building company Dawnus Construction of Exeter and work will begin on the new lifeboat station at Maer Rocks on Tuesday 6 May. The activities will start with a turf turning ceremony at 1pm.
 
The third announcement at Exmouth concerns RNLI lifeguards who will be on duty in Exmouth this summer. In addition to providing a lifeguard service on Sandy Bay beach, the RNLI lifeguards will also be extending their safety patrols to Exmouth’s town beach, and will work alongside the local volunteer lifeboat crew and the local volunteer lifeguard club to provide a joined up lifesaving service for beach and sea users in the area.
 
The RNLI are looking for people who already hold a recognised lifeguard qualification to join the team that will patrol Exmouth’s beaches. If you are interested in joining, or volunteering for the team, please contact Barry Heathfield on 07855 418 858 or email jobs@rnli.org.uk
 
Notes to editors
 
  • Attached is a photograph of the Mersey class lifeboat Margaret Jean. Please credit RNLI volunteer Colin Watson.  
 
  • You are invited to attend the turf turning ceremony at the site of the new lifeboat station near Maer Rocks at 1pm on Tuesday 6 May 2008. Please register your intention to attend with Tamsin on the number listed below.
 
  • The Mersey all weather lifeboat was the first ‘fast’ carriage lifeboat and was introduced in 1988. She has a slightly ‘boxy’ wheelhouse set well aft and the sheerline is flattened towards the bow. Partial tunnels and substantial bilge keels protect the propellers. The last Mersey was built in 1993.
Length:            12m
Speed:             17 knots
Range:                        140 nautical miles
Construction:            Aluminium or fibre-reinforced composite
Crew:             6
Weight:           14.5 tonnes
Launch:            Carriage, afloat or slipway
 
  • Dawnus Construction, Exeter, is part of a regional civil engineering and building company. To find out more please visit www.dawnus.co.uk
 
  • RNLI lifeguards will patrol Exmouth town beach from 17 May until 30 September, and Sandy Bay during the busy peak season between 5 July and 31 August. On both beaches the RNLI lifeguards will be on duty between 10 am and 6pm.
 
RNLI contact
For further information please contact Tamsin Thomas, RNLI Media Relations Manager for the south, on 07786 668847.
 
RNLI online
For further information about the RNLI visit www.rnli.org.uk or for media information go to www.rnli.org.uk/press
 
Other relevant sites
 

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RNLI Public Relations: 01202 336789 or pressoffice@rnli.org.uk.

RNLI online: For more information on the RNLI please visit www.rnli.org.uk. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI Press Centre.

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 over 230 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and has more than 140 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK. 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 137,000 lives.

Visit the RNLI's official YouTube channel for more films and follow our rescue stories on Twitter.

A charity registered in England and Wales (209603) and Scotland (SC037736). Charity number CHY 2678 in the Republic of Ireland.

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