Thoughtful Royal Navy engineers 'jumped at the chance' to repair damaged lifeboat engine for Gosport service
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Volunteer life boat crews are deployed consistently to save people at sea
King-hearted Royal Navy engineers “jumped at the chance” to support a critical lifeboat service.
Trainee marine engineers from HMS Sultan repaired a damaged engine for the Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue Service (GAFIRS). Volunteers approached personnel at the naval base after the propulsion system aboard the Inshore Lifeboat Ian Fuller ran into problems during a training exercise.
Faced with the prospect of a costly commercial repair, the charity turned to their neighbours at Britain's home of naval engineering for support. Petty Officer Engineering Technician (Marine Engineering) Kieron Meehan led a team of apprentices who rallied to the cause.
He said: “I jumped at the chance to help, especially as I've known Taff a long time. We've probably had 10 or 12 trainees involved, and they've all brought different skills and qualities to it. The defect looked like an easy fix at first, a snapped bracket, but as we got deeper into it, we realised we had to take apart the whole engine.
“That's brilliant for the trainees to see, especially those who've never been on a ship before. They've had to use problem solving, teamwork and technical skills specific to outboard motors. A real problem never works like the training syllabus. It's about staying calm and putting what you've been taught into practice, and that's building resilience in our trainees for the jobs they'll encounter on board."
These engineers will soon have to work on huge Queen Elizabeth-class carriers and other smaller craft, so getting their teeth into a project like this saw them earn valuable experience. The work also helped the trainee Leading Engineering Technicians Marine Engineering (LETMEs) take a step closer to completing their Level 3 apprenticeships.
GAFIRS is an independent lifeboat and inshore rescue service founded in 1969. As a facility to HM Coastguard, the charity provides emergency lifeboat cover to the Eastern Solent and Portsmouth Harbour. They are entirely run by volunteers and receive no government funding.
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The charity responds to more than 100 incidents per year on average and has already attended 67 so far this year. Recently repaired Ian Fuller ILB is one of three lifeboats operated by GAFIRS, alongside the Gosport Lifeboat, Joan Dora Fuller, and the Gosport Beach Rescue craft, Patrick Beach.
Matthew "Taff" Crofts, a former Naval Marine Engineer who is now Apprenticeships Team Leader for HMS Sultan’s Marine Engineering Training Group (METG), is a volunteer with GAFIRS. He said: “Following some recent training, damage to the engine on our Gosport Inshore Lifeboat, Ian Fuller ILB, was identified
“We were then faced with the prospect of sending the engine to a commercial company for repair, which would've presented the charity with a significant bill. Now repaired, Ian Fuller ILB will undergo sea trials and then return to service supporting HM Coastguard. A huge thank you to everyone at HMS Sultan for their time, expertise and willingness to support our independent lifeboat service. Collaborations like this make a real difference and help us continue to provide a vital service to our local waters."