The RNLI is a charity registered in England and Wales (209603) and Scotland (SC037736). Charity number CHY 2678 in the Republic of Ireland.
The latest addition to Porthcawl Lifeboat Station, D-Class Jean Ryall
Second Lifeboat for Porthcawl
Date: 09/05/2012
Author: Ian Stroud, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer
Porthcawl RNLI has a second lifeboat permanently on station from this month. Following a Coastal Review by RNLI executives earlier this year a decision was made to add to Porthcawl’s rescue capabilities by placing a D class lifeboat along side the existing Atlantic 85 class.
Last year Porthcawl was one of the busiest RNLI stations in Wales and it received more calls for help than at any time in the past ten years. Based on this background, the decision makers at RNLI headquarters in Poole decided there was a need to enhance the Charity’s life saving ability in the seas off Porthcawl.
The new D Class, D714 named Jean Ryall arrived on station and under went sea trails by RNLI inspectors on 8th May. Over the next two weeks all the crew will go through extensive training and assessments by the inspectors and this will ensure hey are competent to operate either of the lifeboats.
Lifeboat Operations Manager at Porthcawl, Philip Missen MBE, said, ‘Most of the rescues we deal with are inshore and whilst we may go a few weeks without a callout there are times when we will get three or four in one day. Our Atlantic 85, Rose of the Shires, is designed for most sea conditions up to Force 6 or 7 and capable of speeds of 35 knots. To compliment this, the new D class, which has been the workhorse of the service for 40 years, is small and highly manoeuvrable, making it ideal for rescues close to shore in fair to moderate conditions. It is capable of 25 knots and will be ideal either as a stand alone lifeboat or as back up to the larger Atlantic 85. We are delighted in the confidence the RNLI has shown in our Station and particularly the commitment shown by our crews in that they decided on placing the two lifeboats here in Porthcawl’.
Senior crewman, Carl Evans said, ‘We had a D class lifeboat at Porthcawl from the mid sixties until our new station opened in 1996. However most of the crew who operated during that period have now retired. The new boat is far more technically advanced than any previous D class lifeboats we used prior to 1996 so we are all looking forward to training and getting familiar with its characteristics and capabilities, particularly working close inshore in surf conditions’.
