New rescue boat for diving club

Ally · 10-21-2007, 12:09 PM

A sub-aqua club has taken delivery of a new £23,000 dive boat which will double as a rescue craft.

The Dingwall club's new 5.8 metre (19ft) rigid inflatable has a 115HP main engine and a 4HP auxiliary engine and is equipped with safety gear.

A Lottery Fund grant of £10,000, more than £4,000 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise and £2,500 from Highland Council helped to cover the cost.

Other contributions came from donations and fund-raising efforts.

(BBC)

MgicTwnger · 10-21-2007, 02:29 PM

That sort of thing is unknown on this side of the pond, at least to me. Dive clubs do not own boats, and rescues are handled by the Coast Guard and local Marine Police.

Ally · 10-23-2007, 04:55 PM

We have coast guard too, along with Royal National Lifeboat Institution ( a registered charity that gets no government help) and they take care of the entire coastline of the UK. But it is quite common for individual clubs and associations to have their own boats as often being already at the scene could be a life saver, whereas if a helicopter or lifeboat is called out, precious minutes could be lost. The club/association boats also allow the casualty to be recovered from the sea and stabilised as best as possible before the rescue agency arrives...and in the case of a heli-lift, a fast boat can assist in the winching of the casualty too.

MgicTwnger · 10-23-2007, 05:18 PM

I think the difference here is who owns the dive boats. The ones over here are independent operators, or owned by dive shops or resorts, not dive clubs. The reputable ones are equipped with oxygen and other life-saving equipment.

Ally · 10-23-2007, 05:32 PM

The majority, if not all, dive boat operators here in the UK have fully equipped boats that are licensed by local authority. Clubs, resorts and associations are regulated in the same way too IIRC.

Perhaps one of out British diving contingent can confirm this.

**Kev Martin** · 10-24-2007, 10:18 AM

Ally

You are right. All dive boat operators in the UK are required by law to carry oxygen and first aid kits as a minimum and other lifesaving equipment as required by local authority. The idea of a club having a boat which doubles as a rescue craft is nothing new. Effectively all club dive boats would be equipped to be used as a rescue boat. The club in Scotland which made application for and obtained a grant to go towards the purchase of a boat probably reinforced their application by stating that the boat would also double as a rescue boat.

Interestingly any boat that would carry oxygen and first aid kits must, in accordance with Health and Safety legislation, have suitably trained oxygen administrators and first aiders to use the equipment.

Ally · 10-24-2007, 11:31 AM

Thank you for clarifying Kev. Much appreciated.