Claims ‘inexperience’ relief lifeboat crew called for help with sea rescue

Wednesday 07 June 2017

It’s being claimed the crew brought over from the UK to staff the St Helier lifeboat following the mass walkout of the crew because their coxswain was ‘sacked’ had to call for help when they were called out to a rescue at the weekend.

A boat allegedly put out a call for assistance late on Saturday afternoon when rope got wrapped around their propeller. The incident happened off the Minquiers - a group of islands and rocks, about 15 km south of Jersey.

The relief crew went to the boat’s assistance, but it’s claimed when they reached the reef they felt they didn’t have the local knowledge to get in and out of the rocks safely.

It’s reported they called on the St Catherine’s lifeboat to come and help. The experienced crew were able to navigate the treacherous channels and reach the boat. The more powerful St Helier lifeboat was then able to tow the stricken vessel back to town.

It claimed the local crew of the St Helier lifeboat – who say they’re willing to go back to work straight away if their coxswain is reinstated - would have had no difficultly navigating in and out of the rocks. Critics of the national RNLI’s actions say the incident proves people’s lives are being put at risk. Not only was the ‘relief’ crew unable to handled the situation but by calling out the St Catherine’s lifeboat its normal patch was without cover.

The local crew of the St Helier lifeboat are currently awaiting the outcome of an appeal by their coxswain, Andy Hibbs, to be reinstated. The national RNLI claimed he broke their rules and dismissed him a month ago. He’s always denied the charges. The ‘sacking’ prompted a mass walkout of the crew. They say they won’t go back unless he’s reinstated. The result of the appeal is expected next week.