Maryport Inshore Rescue have been successful in their application to the governments Department Of Transport & have secured £77,000 of a £93,000 total project cost.
The funding was applied for to secure further capability from the Maryport Based team, who have been actively working behind the scenes to ensure all its members have the correct PPE and equipment to safely carryout the role of which they are volunteers for. This years funding was submitted after the team agreed that further development of the team was necessary. The team boasts both a marine / lifeboat capability as well as a SRT / Flood team capability, so having the right kit and PPE is vital in ensuring the team is available at a moments notice every day and hour of the year.
The funding will cover the purchase of a ‘D’ Class lifeboat for inshore and shallow water work. This boat is considerably smaller than the lifeboat asset, however durable and built to last. The D Class is an RNLI design, and will be purchased from them as a new build craft. The new vessel can also be used in flooded terrain and will be transported and stored on a road trailer.
The funding will also support a Communications upgrade for the organisations main lifeboat. The team identified that the ageing comms system is becoming unreliable and therefore the decision was made to explore the market for a new fit for purpose system. IWS was approached and have designed a system for our requirements. The set up is a wireless system, which incorporates a intercom system, a common interface with the onboard VHF systems and a safe and hands free comms system with the lifeboats launch vehicle. Further to this important and required comms system, the team have also secured funding for a further application of hand held VHF radios, some of which have a GPS / DSC capability which we have identified as a piece of equipment which can be used in all aspects of the teams capability.
The team has recently welcomed a number of new members to the organisation, all of which require the basic PPE the facility requires each member to have. The funding has allowed the team to purchase additional Dry Suits for those members.
The application was lodged by the service in September 2019, however announcements and confirmations have only been issued by the government this last month, following the General Election in December. The funding announcement was put on hold until a new government was formed after Boris Johnstone announced an election during the festive period, a dissolution of parliament meant that there was no government or ministers to oversee the grants, therefore it was all put on hold.
Michael Messenger, Operations Manager for Maryport Inshore Rescue said:
“We are delighted to announce we have been successful with our funding application and have been awarded £77,050.50 from the Department Of Transport’s Inshore and Inland Rescue Boat Grant Fund” Thanks must be made to minister who has overseen the funding and to the expert panel who have sat and reviewed each application.
