THE Jersey Lifeboat Association has warned that its ongoing suspension could ‘needlessly cost lives’.
JLA chair Ben Shenton said that having its new super-fast RIB confined to port could be the difference ‘between life and death’ in a worst-case scenario.
The charity was forced to suspend its operations at the end of last year after its all-weather vessel, Sir Max Aitken III, hit rocks near Noirmont Point while the crew were en route to help a French yacht.
Mr Shenton has previously claimed there was ‘no legal or factual basis’ to freeze either of its vessels and has since been pushing for the JLA to resume its operations.
He said that the government was now seeking to use an independent Royal Court commissioner to resolve the situation through ‘negotiation, acceptance of the truth, goodwill and accountability’.
‘Hopefully this process will commence shortly,’ he added.
Last Thursday, Jersey Coastguard tasked all three of the Island’s RNLI lifeboats, a Ports of Jersey work-boat, Channel Islands Air Search and a French helicopter to rescue Duncan Laisney and Paul Clifford – after the light aircraft they were in ditched in the sea off Jersey’s south-east coast. Both men were uninjured and were recovered from their life raft in rough seas by the St Helier inshore lifeboat.
Mr Shenton said: ‘Without wishing to tempt fate, 2022 has been relatively quiet in terms of significant marine emergencies. A perfect year would be no call-outs and everyone remaining safe.’
He added: ‘However, our RIB… could be the difference between life and death.
‘The worst-case scenario, and the one we fear most, is that our suspension will needlessly cost a life, or lives.’
In a statement, Ports of Jersey said: ‘Jersey Coastguard commissioned a report after the incident involving the Jersey Lifeboat Association’s search- and-rescue vessel, and its provisional findings recommended a review of the JLA’s operational policies and procedures, to examine whether they remain appropriate, and how they will be followed in practice.
‘The JLA’s status as a declared SAR asset was frozen, with the consent of its chair, and Jersey Coastguard remain on standby to commence this process as soon as the JLA are ready to engage.
‘Ports of Jersey will continue to work with all stakeholders to maintain the safe, robust search-and-rescue service for Islanders that we are so proud of.
‘The strength and teamwork across Jersey’s search-and-rescue community was evidenced only last week, when two residents were rescued after they had to ditch their plane off the south-east coast.’
