Thurso lifeboat coxswain Billy Farquhar married Minnie McKenzie at Stromness registry office on 11 September 1999.  Both Billy and Minnie are very happy and looking forward to a new life together.
Coastguard Association would like to offer them our very best wishes.

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Bravery Award

Thurso RNLB coxswain Billy Farquhar was honoured by the Shipwrecked Fishermen and Mariners Royal Benevolent Society for his outstanding skill and seamanship in helping to avert the chemical tanker ‘Multitank Ascania’ from drifting onto Dunnet Head on 19 March this year.

The award named after the French philanthropist Emile Robin was made at the Fishmongers Hall, London on October 20. 

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Duncansby search

Wick lifeboat and coastguard rescue teams were called to search for a local man reported missing on 16 Sept 99 in the Duncansby area.

Simon Grewcock (32), an instrument technician of Aiden Cottage, John O’ Groats turned up later at the Church of Scotland manse at Canisbay on the Friday.

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Local RNLI man on press course

Local RNLI press officer Angus Oag recently completed a short training course for volunteer press officers which was held in Poole, Dorset.

Officers from around the UK and the Irish Republic took part in the course, which comprises of lectures and practical training in media skills that will give them the relevant knowledge and skills required carrying out their vital role within the service.

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SUMMER SEASON STARTS FOR LIFEBOATS

Easter marks the start of the busiest time of year for the 4,300 volunteer lifeboat crew members throughout the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. Figures just released show that in the six months between April and September 1999, lifeboats carried out 4,870 launches, 74% of their work, saved 828 lives (80%) and assisted a further 4,380 people (66%). 

Statistics for the last three years show a gradual decline in the number of times lifeboats are called out and fewer rescues where lives would have been lost had the lifeboat not been there. However, there is a steady increase in the number of people landed and brought ashore.

'Lives saved' is when, in the opinion of the RNLI, people would have lost their lives but for the services of the lifeboat. 'People landed' is when people were at risk and required to be landed, whilst 'people brought ashore' is when, in RNLI opinion, people were not at risk but were brought in before the situation deteriorated.

Speaking of the figures Peter Bradley, RNLI National Sea Safety Manager says,'Since 1994 the RNLI has had two ways of saving lives; the lifeboats and their volunteer crews and the Sea Safety Initiative, which aims to prevent people getting into trouble in the first place. If these figures are an indication that our educational work is beginning to take effect, then I am very pleased. However, there are still 18 launches by lifeboats, on average, every day of the year and 18 people assisted. Those figures are still too high. The RNLI went one stage further in its campaign to reduce the number of incidents last year, when it introduced the SEA Check service in May 1999, which offers free face-to-face safety advice for all leisure boat owners at their request. To date, over 2,000 checks have been carried out. We intend to carry out 20,000 checks this year and wish to recruit 1,500 volunteers to join the 500 we already have, who will be trained to do the checks.'

There was a small decline in the number of launches to pleasure craft. Lifeboats launched 3,351 (3,530) times, which is 51.4% (52%) of all services, with 693 (953) lives saved, 67.4% (68.2%) of all lives saved by lifeboats.

Merchant vessels and tankers were launched to 185 (155) times, 52.9% (45.2%) of which were carried out in darkness and 9.2% (11.6%) in winds over Force 7.  822 (865) launches to fishing vessels, with the lives of 134 (164) fishermen saved.

Lifeboats were called out 1,592 (1,556) times to people in distress, not aboard any craft or vessel and 174 (235) lives were saved. These figures include skin-divers, bathers and water-skiers, people and vehicles cut off by the tide and casualties fallen from cliffs and man-made structures.

Of 268 (305) launches in answer to unidentified distress signals, 261 (293) turned out to be false alarms or hoax calls. HM Coastguard co-ordinated 5,857 (6,053) - 89.9% (90%) of all lifeboat services. Search and Rescue helicopters assisted lifeboats on 1,054 (1,120) - 16.2% (16.6%) occasions.