Carrybridge RNLI celebrates two new qualified Navigators
- Robert Stone
- 5 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Wednesday 29 July 2026
Carrybridge RNLI is delighted to announce that two of its volunteer crew members, Ronnie Heslop and Eamonn McManus, have successfully completed their Inland Lifeboat (ILB) Navigator passouts.
The assessments were conducted by RNLI Coastal Lifeboat Trainer Sean Ginnelly, who travelled from Achill Island to Carrybridge on behalf of the RNLI to carry out the rigorous evaluations.
Held over Monday and Tuesday this week, the passouts lasted five hours each and took place both ashore at Carrybridge Lifeboat Station and afloat on Upper Lough Erne. The assessments tested a broad range of navigation and operational skills, including chartwork, radar, Automatic Identification System (AIS), GPS, buoyage, passage planning, search patterns and an in-depth knowledge of local waters.
The ILB Navigator role was introduced at the beginning of 2024 as part of the RNLI's new Operational Competency Framework. Achieving the qualification marks the culmination of years of dedicated training, with both volunteers completing hundreds of hours of exercises afloat, practical training sessions and operational service in all weather conditions.
Carrybridge RNLI continues to train volunteers across a wide range of operational and shore-based roles, ensuring the station maintains the highest standards of lifesaving capability on Lough Erne.
Chris Cathcart, Volunteer Lifeboat Training Coordinator at Carrybridge RNLI, said:
"I would like to congratulate both Ronnie and Eamonn on obtaining their Navigator roles, which were completed to a very high standard. Ronnie and Eamonn both spent a lot of time and effort over the past months preparing for the assessments, and both are a great asset to our station."
Stephen Scott, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Carrybridge RNLI, added:
"I'd like to congratulate Ronnie and Eamonn on successfully completing their passouts. We are fortunate to have a really committed volunteer crew at our station in Carrybridge and I'm delighted that today we celebrate their success. It requires a lot of dedication and sacrifice to become a navigator and having Ronnie and Eamonn achieve these milestones in their careers sets our station up with leaders for the future."
The station congratulates Ronnie and Eamonn on reaching this important milestone and thanks Sean Ginnelly for delivering the assessments. Their achievement strengthens Carrybridge RNLI's operational capability and ensures the station remains ready to provide a lifesaving service to all who use Lough Erne.
