Southend Lifeboat

Frequently Asked Questions

We are often asked about the station and the Lifeboat rescues. We are always pleased to answer any questions. So whether you are in the Shop or leaning over the Sun-Deck, never be afraid to ask.

Here is a small list of many of the questions we often meet. You are welcome to email in with any more you may have.

• If you see something on the coast or a river that is giving you cause for concern the number to ring is 999 and ask for the Coastguard. If you are using a mobile the Coastguard will need an accurate description of where you are in the country. He will ask you why you are calling and what you can see. He will decide the most appropriate form of aid. It might well be a Lifeboat - but it might not.
• The Coastguard may ask you to keep observing the scene until a rescue unit arrives. This can be very important and save vital time in the search area.

• The vast majority of Shouts are initiated by the Coastguard (MCA) who alert the Lifeboat crew by radio pagers.

• Normally within 20 minutes of the pagers going off. Remember the Atlantic 75 is at the end of a pier that is over a mile long. The Inshore D-class can be away within 5 minutes if the state of tide and type of job allow.

• It's about 20ft deep on the South side of the Pierhead. As you move off into the channel it quickly deepens to about 40ft.

• Every launch is treated as though it is going to last until the boat runs out of fuel. Our boats carry enough fuel to run 3 hours. Sea conditions and weather can change a lot in that space of time so we go well prepared.

• The big chimney lies about 1/2 mile inland from Sheerness harbour and so that makes it about 4 miles from the Pierhead.

• The buggy gets to the end of the pier in about 5 or 6 minutes so it must average about 11  m.p.h.

• There are a few types that commonly occur. They include: mechanical failure of leisure boats, craft running aground and people cut off by the tide.

• Dont' panic
• Take a heading back to land in a North Westerly direction. This will avoid the deepest water from most positions
• If you have children with you or weak swimmers, look to get on board a moored boat if possible. The Mulberry harbour (that concrete wreck off Thorpe Bay) is never fully submerged so that can be a refuge as well.
• Try and attract attention by waving both arms above your head continuously
• You will have saved yourself a lot of stress (at the very least) if you have told someone where you are going and how long you expect to be, taken something buoyant with you and carried a mobile phone.

• It is not only the 30 or so Lifeboat crew that this station depends on. Behind the scenes there are many people keeping this station running. From the shop staff volunteers through to the Fundraising Committee who organise the funding vital to keeping the charity afloat.

• The Atlantic 75 is good for just over 32knots on the right sea. That's not bad when carrying 3 people and a bow full of ballast!

• To be Search and Rescue enabled you need a Commander, a Pilot and a crewman. The Commander has overall control of the vessel and looks after radio comms, GPS, and managing the Shout on site. The Pilot is responsible for the flying of the Hovercraft and getting the craft safely to the scene of the casualty. The crewman is on hand to assist with the trim of the craft in flight, ready rescue equipment on board and look after anyone taken aboard for rescue.

• Firstly, let's do the maths. A straight line to Southend from RAF Wattisham is about 45 miles. A Sea King can travel at about 160m.ph. So that means roughly speaking, the helicopter is over Southend in less than 20 minutes. Now that compares very similarly with a launch of the Hovercraft or an Offshore launch of the Atlantic 75 or ILB 2.
  Add on top of that the fact that the Sea King comes with a qualified medical winchman, as opposed to a First Aider and you can see why Rescue 125 is such an important facility to us.
  Remember - transfering fragile casualties from accident scene to Lifeboat, riding in the Lifeboat, switching from Lifeboat to Ambulance, then from Ambulance to A & E carries inherent risk.
  If we have the option of calling for aerial assistance in such emergencies we will always be happy to use it.