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An independent lifeboat service set up after the former St. Helier RNLI crew broke ties with the charity officially launched today, and announced they have put down a deposit for a Tyne class vessel.
Former Senator Ben Shenton, Chairman of the new organisation, Paul Battrick MBE, chair of the Volunteers Committee and Jamie Langlois, a crew member and mechanic, officially launched the Jersey Lifeboat Association at the St. Helier Yacht Club and announced the start of fundraising efforts under the command of Cheryl Hibbs, mother of former coxswain Andy Hibbs.
It remains unclear, however, when the JLA will be in service.
The JLA creation came following a months-long conflict between the RNLI and the rescue service’s former St. Helier crew, which resulted in coxswain Andy Hibbs and his crew leaving their positions and vowing to set up their own service. The Association was formally approved in Royal Court last month and incorporated under an 1862 law under the objectives of saving lives, promoting safety and relief from disaster in island waters, and helping educate others on safety at sea.
Video: The JLA talk about their new service.
Thanking islanders for their "overwhelming" support, the association team announced that it had its eyes on a Tyne class vessel with a capacity for six crew members and up to 108 survivors as their all weather lifeboat. Paul Battrick said: "In our opinion the best interim all-weather lifeboat for Jersey would be a Tyne class type vessel which is still currently in service with the RNLI and to this end we have located the retired Bembridge Boat House Lifeboat “Max Aitken III” which is a Tyne class vessel.
"This boat is in excellent condition having been laid up in a yard for several years. During her years of service she was kept ready to launch, dry and secure in a boathouse with a slip... This Tyne class lifeboat has a speed of 18 knots, which we feel is acceptable and all things considered we feel will be a perfect interim boat for Jersey."
The JLA has put a deposit down for the boat, which is similar to a previous Jersey Lifeboat, the Alexandre Coutanche, and Paul Battrick said they have a budget of £100,000 for it. Jamie Langlois described it as a "brilliant sea boat", which made of steel rather than carbon, and which can go in rough weather without broaching.
Pictured: The JLA has put a deposit down for the Bembridge Boat House Lifeboat 'Max Aitken III', a Tyne class vessel.
The Association is also looking at buying a nine-metre MST rib worth £200,000 as their fast inshore rescue craft. "It has a top speed of 45 knots whereas the RNLI Atlantic does just 35 knots. At this time we have not placed an order but this proposed acquisition is a state of the art boat," Mr Battrick explained.
While the JLA wasn't able to give a date for when they will be in service, they have started updating the 20 members of the crew's qualifications with courses of first aid, sea survival. They are also putting all policies and procedures in place for approval by the Harbourmaster. Paul Battrick said: "We have a crew ready to go. It is harder to find a crew than a boat. All we need is money!"
The JLA will be soon be distributing 500 bright red charity collection boxes in pubs, clubs and shops around the island. Led by Cheryl Hibbs, the fundraising committee counts eight members who collectively had 140 years of experience in fundraising.
Pictured: The JLA's fundraising committee with the association's charity collection boxes.
Ben Shenton is urging islanders to put money in the "red boxes." At the launch, he said: "Please make sure you put your money in the red boxes! All the money collected will stay in the Island to support your Jersey Lifeboat Association... Every penny we will get will be spent in Jersey... We need a boat in Jersey that will stay in Jersey. We don't want a boat that might disappear to Poole or the UK."
The JLA will meet representatives of the RNLI, who had offered to assist in establishing the new service, next week to discuss running costs for a station and lifeboat. Liam Krige, the RNLI Area Lifesaving Manager, was also in Jersey today as part of standard station visit and to take part in a joint search and rescue meeting. He said that amid "challenging" times, the focus has to be on saving lives. "This is what the people of Jersey deserve and we have to ensure they have a viable and longterm lifeboat service that can protect the people around the island... Our goals is still to ensure we are saving lives in Jersey."
Commenting on recent calls for a vote to choose between different lifeboat services, the RNLI said: "This is divisive and ignores the hard work of RNLI volunteers in the island who are already providing a lifeboat service out of two locations and have launched seven times so far this year on rescues. It is important to have a reliable lifesaving service and the RNLI is committed to providing an effective and dependable lifeboat and lifeguard service. Our volunteers will continue to launch lifeboats out of St Helier and St Catherine’s, and lifeguards will protect beaches around the island throughout the holiday season.
Pictured: Liam Krige, the RNLI Area Lifesaving Manager, said the focus should be on saving lives.
"...As we have stated repeatedly, the priority of the RNLI is to save lives at sea and prevent drowning. We want to move forward and to focus on delivering the best possible service to the island. RNLI volunteers at St Catherine’s, new trainee crew at St Helier and RNLI fundraisers demonstrate their commitment daily to the people of Jersey as they give their time and expertise . The RNLI would like to take this opportunity to thank all our supporters and volunteers in Jersey for their ongoing support."
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