Two members of a national maritime charity aren’t going too overboard with celebrations after gaining an advanced safety boat qualification.
The Maritime Volunteer Service (MVS) is a well-respected charity with a focus on nautical training and community service. It has 26 units around the UK coastline and inland waterways, operating a fleet of small vessels which are used to train members in seamanship, engineering, and communications. The Northumbria Unit is based at St Peter’s Marina in Newcastle and at Kielder Water in Northumberland.
Two members of the MVS successfully completed their RYA Safety Boat qualification at Kielder Water Sailing Club. Angela Carrington and Barry Coffell took part in the two-day assessment and had to demonstrate competency in the recovery of casualties from the water as well as how to right/recover/tow a range of craft from windsurfers to larger sailing vessels.
Training is at the very heart of the service – both afloat and ashore. The MVS trains its members (many of whom have had no previous connection with the sea) in nautical skills, following its own training pathway leading to RYA qualifications. These skills are then put into practice to serve the local and in some cases, the national community. In recent years, MVS units have assisted in organised events such as the Tall Ships Race, International Festival of the Sea, the Clipper Race and the 2012 Olympics.
The MVS operate a 4.5 metre rigid inflatable boat and a 9-metre patrol boat on the Tyne and crew Kielder Water Sailing Club’s vessels while on duty there.
Head of Unit David Bourn said: “Angela and Barry have put a lot of work into gaining this qualification which will enable the unit to provide safety cover for a wide range of maritime events in our area of operation which stretches from Berwick to the Tees. We are very proud of their achievement.”
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Photo: Angela and Barry with their qualifications
For more information / media interviews contact: Volunteer Officer Keith Newman (PR Officer) keith@highlightspr.co.uk 07814 397951