New Brighton RNLI celebrate Women in Maritime Day with first all-female launch!
Sunday 18 May is International Women in Maritime Day, which is a day that celebrates those in the maritime sector and aims to inspire the next generation of women into maritime roles. New Brighton RNLI volunteers celebrated this day with their first ever all-female launch of the Atlantic-85 lifeboat
This year’s theme for International Women in Maritime Day is an ‘Ocean of Opportunity’, which aims to broaden the number of women in the maritime sector and break down barriers faced by women in various maritime roles. The female volunteers at New Brighton conducted an exercise which included women in a multitude of roles, from: Tractor Driver, Head Launcher and Shore Crew, to our first female Helm, Navigators and Boat Crew to promote this day.
The launch procedure involved the safe travel of the lifeboat to and from the launch site, maintaining a lookout for any potential hazards and ensuring the boat gets to the water safely. The boat along with its helm and boat crew, were then driven towards the water by the tractor driver, with shore crew and head launcher maintaining that lookout, and were able to launch effectively into the water. The launch took place at low water which at New Brighton presents muddy conditions. Tractor drivers train to be able to launch the boat in many challenging conditions and safely drive the tractor back out again.
The afloat exercise involved training in helming the SAR unit and man overboard procedures. The volunteers took turns at the helm, practising vital lifesaving skills in the form of effectively and safely coming alongside a casualty, considering various factors such as weather and tide. They also completed a number of recovery procedures involving a man overboard manikin, which simulated pulling in a real-life casualty, and utilising lifesaving first aid. This exercise marked a milestone for the station, being the first ever all-female launch and recovery at New Brighton.
Fliss Green, first female volunteer helm at New Brighton, said:
‘In the last year at New Brighton, we have seen the numbers of women volunteering in operational roles increase to now represent over 30% of our crew, and over half of them are in or following pathways to command roles. To mark the day a training exercise took place, with all required operational roles afloat and ashore carried out by women, fitting the ‘Ocean of Opportunity’ theme nicely.’
Notes to Editors:
New Brighton RNLI was established in 1863 in the bustling seaside resort of New Brighton, on the northeast corner of the Wirral peninsula. They cover the River Mersey and out into the Irish Sea.
The station is home to a B-class Atlantic 85 lifeboat, one of the fastest in the RNLI fleet. The crews at New Brighton have been presented with a remarkable 48 awards for gallantry to date.
RNLI Media Contacts:
For more information, please contact:
Emily Craven
Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer/ILB Crew
New Brighton RNLI
07986119684
Connor Wray
Lifeboat Press Officer/ILB Crew
New Brighton RNLI
07756553092
Claire Fitzpatrick-Smith
Regional Communications Manager
07977728315
Danielle Rush
Regional Communications Lead
+441745538995
Or RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789
Key facts about the RNLI
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 146,000 lives.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.