On Sat, 22 Jul 2006 00:40:37 +0100
Bob Adams <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Rick Ansell
> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes
> >Rick
> >
> >[1] Spare a thought for the Southend RNLI crew who had to man the
> >boathouse at the end of the pier 24 hours a day for a considerable time
> >after the middle part of the pier burnt down.
>
> Go on then, how did they manage it?
During the time that the Pierhead was isolated the Hovercraft was used to ferry
crew-members to and from the station.
============
A bit of background that should stave off further questions about the answer...
Southend has, I think, more Lifeboats than any other station. The Pierhead
station houses the largest boat, an Atlantic 75, a 7.3m RIB (B776 - "Vic &
Billie Whiffen") and the smaller ILB1 D Class, a 16ft Inflatable (D633 - "Pride
of London Foresters"). As it takes some time to get to the end of the Pier the
Pierhead is manned full-time (by volunteers) on summer weekends, there is a
lookout tower on the boathouse which is also manned.
When the tide is in, the Pierhead isn't manned and a D Class is required the
Inshore boathouse at the shore end of the Pier is used as its quicker to
launch[1]. The boat is an old-style D Class (D527 - "Ethel Royal"). An
Atlantic isn't kept here because of the time it would take to drive it out into
water deep enough for it to operate.
Next to the Inshore boathouse is the Hanger. This houses the Griffon 470 SAR
hovercraft (H004 - "Vera Ravine") that doesn't care about the state of the tide
and is used for rescues on the mudflats.
Rick
[1] Normally an electric buggy is used to get to the Pierhead. Since it takes 5
minutes to get to the station from the shore (its 2 miles to the end) the buggy
has marine radio fitted and the travel time is used to clarify the situation
and plan the rescue.[1] Like any emergency vehicle it has to contend with
muppets who don't get out of the way when approached by a vehicle with blue
lights and sirens.
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