Carrybridge RNLI Volunteers Successfully Complete Shore and Boat Crew Passouts

Friday 5 September 2025

Carrybridge Lifeboat Station is proud to announce that six of its dedicated shore crew members have completed their shore side assessments. Two boat crew have also completed Tier 2 assessments which signify they are fully trained boat crew, a significant milestone in their lifesaving journey.

Carrybridge RNLI Volunteers Successfully Complete Shore and Boat Crew Passouts

The assessments conducted by Stephen McNulty, Plant and Machinery Trainer, and Sean Ginnelly, Coastal Lifeboat Trainer. Both assessors had travelled up from Achill Island to conduct the assessments on behalf of the RNLI.

The Shore side assessments were completed by Emma Burton who completed her Head Launcher and Launch Vehicle Driver passouts, Stevie Somerville who completed his Head Launcher passout, Richard Neely, Eamonn McManus, Douglas McFarland and Matthew Maguire who completed their Shore Crew passouts. The Head Launcher is the person in command of the Launch and Recovery of the lifeboat, making sure everything is completed in a safe manner. The Launch Vehicle Driver is the person driving the tractor and follows the instructions from the Head Launcher to make sure the lifeboat is manoeuvred correctly. The role of the Shore Crew is to maintain a watch on the areas of the tractor, trailer and boat not visible to either the Head Launcher or Launch Vehicle Driver and to assist with all areas of the Launch and Recovery process including refuelling and wash down of the boat after every launch.

Eamonn McManus also completed his Tier 2 passout as did Ronnie Heslop. These take place in the classroom and also afloat on Upper Lough Erne and last three hours per person which rigorously evaluate the volunteers’ skills across a wide range of operational areas. Tasks include towing, man overboard procedures, emergency drills, helming, maritime theory, and other essential lifesaving skills. This final pass-out assessment represents the culmination of more than two years of intensive training. All the volunteers have logged hundreds of hours in afloat exercises, hands-on sessions, and active service calls in all conditions.

Carrybridge RNLI continues to train volunteers in various roles, both afloat and ashore, to the highest standards as part of its mission to save lives on Lough Erne.

Chris Cathcart, Volunteer Lifeboat Training Coordinator noted, “I am very happy with the time and commitment taken by all the newly qualified crew who have reached this milestone on the lifeboat journey. All the crew completed their tasks to an extremely high standard during their final passout, and I wish them every success in their further progression.”

Stephen Scott, Lifeboat Operations Manager at the station says, “I would like to thank all the crew who have passed these assessments. We are very fortunate to have a really dedicated volunteer crew at our station, and I’m delighted that today we celebrate Emma, Stevie, Richard, Douglas, Matthew, Eamonn and Ronnie reaching this significant landmark. RNLI crew train to an extremely high standard and devote a lot of their time to our charity. This has paid off with their latest achievements which enables them to progress to the next level of training within the RNLI.”