13 May 2015 | Comments
As Airport accreditation and opening nears, the St Helena Sea Rescue Service continues to develop. This service will not only support Airport operations on flight days but will significantly enhance sea rescue operations for St Helena.
Two new boats are being provided as part of the Airport contract. The boats (Gemini Waverider 850s) will provide a fast response to marine emergencies and rescues. It is anticipated that the boats will be delivered in July 2015, but their construction is very advanced and they are looking very impressive. The new boats will complement the current sea rescue boat, the ‘Lima’, which of course will remain as part of the sea rescue fleet.
Recruitment is underway to identify both full-time and auxiliary staff to crew the boats, with extensive training planned for July and August to prepare the team for sea rescue operations. The training will be provided by the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), from South Africa, who are very experienced in sea rescue operations.
Chief of Police, Trevor Botting, commented:
“Sea rescue is an important service provided by the Police Directorate and the new boats, full and part-time crew, and the extensive training planned for July and August will ensure that Airport operations and the wider marine leisure activities around St Helena are supported by a professional and well trained Sea Rescue Service. I am very pleased to have Simon Wade in post as the Sea Rescue Manager and look forward to welcoming the new crew once recruitment is completed.”
Two photos, courtesy of Basil Read, are attached to this release.
Trevor Botting, Chief of Police
SHG
13 May 2015
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