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Green light for RNLI lifeboat on Lough Ree
by Karen Downey
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EmailThe RNLI has given the go ahead for a lifeboat service on Lough Ree, an initiative the local branch of the IWAI (Inland Waterways Association of Ireland) has been working towards for some time now.
Announcing its plans to trial a lifeboat service on Lough Ree, the RNLI said in a statement last week: "At a recent meeting of the RNLI Board of Trustees the decision was taken to place an inshore lifeboat on Lough Ree for at least 12 months to assess whether a permanent lifeboat station should be established."
It is expected that the lifeboat station will be located at the IWAI's land at Coosan Point. The IWAI welcomed the announcement this week and said they hope to get the service up and running as soon as possible.
The local branch of the IWAI made formal representations to the RNLI for a rescue boat on Lough Ree earlier this year, after rounding up some 100 volunteers for the service.
The RNLI said this week: "The charity already operates 43 lifeboat stations around the coast of Ireland and inland on Lough Derg and Lough Erne with around 1,500 volunteer lifeboat crew members. There are estimates of upwards of 1,000 boats moored in or around the Lough, which also has a number of large marinas. The Lough is also a major intersection on the Shannon-Erne navigation route."
The RNLI will initially operate a B class Atlantic 75 lifeboat from temporary station facilities. The lifeboat will come from the existing RNLI relief fleet and a decision will be taken following the year-long trial whether to establish a permanent station.
Martyn Smith, RNLI Divisional Inspector for Ireland, said: "I am delighted that the RNLI Trustees have agreed to place a lifeboat on Lough Ree. The support and enthusiasm for an RNLI lifeboat on Lough Ree from the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland, lough users and statutory agencies has been enormous. As a charity which relies on volunteers and the generosity of the public we were very impressed with the level of interest and engagement from everyone we encountered."
"Lough Ree is at present the only major lake on the Shannon that lacks a dedicated search and rescue presence. It is the centre for a variety of leisure pursuits based both afloat and ashore and has a significant amount of marine traffic passing through. It therefore makes sense for the RNLI to have a presence here which will see us take local volunteers, train them to the highest standards, provide them with the best equipment and enable them to deliver a life-saving service that Lough Ree needs." Initial meetings have already been held by the RNLI locally to gauge interest and support and moves will now be made to recruit the volunteers needed to run the lifeboat station.
The Athlone branch of the IWAI this week welcomed the decision by the RNLI, saying: "This decision comes on the back of a sustained local and national campaign to convince the RNLI that such a service was necessary."
Chairman of the local IWAI branch Dave McCabe said: "This decision represents the successful culmination of local pressure to convince the RNLI to set up a service. The station will be an all volunteer service run by enthusiastic local people. I'd like to thank the RNLI, the national IWAI, the local organising committee and most of all, the local people who put time and effort into this campaign. With this enthusiastic local support we will have a service to be proud of."
The organising committee has a database of over 100 local volunteers and these will help form the backbone of the service. The RNLI will provide the equipment and rigorous specialist training.
Source http://www.westmeath...at-on-lough-ree
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