LAST MONTH, two long‑serving volunteer crew members reached a major milestone in their lifesaving journey. After completing their final assessments, Simon Rigby and Ben Davies have officially qualified as all‑weather lifeboat coxswains, following an intensive period of training and evaluation.
Simon and Ben underwent their final pass‑out assessments under the supervision of RNLI Coastal Trainer Hugh ‘Spud’ Davies. This marked the culmination of many months of preparation, both afloat and ashore.
Ed Hides, New Quay RNLI’s Lifeboat Operations Manager said: “As part of their qualification process, Simon and Ben completed detailed theory examinations covering RNLI policies, operational procedures and collision regulations.
“They were also tested through a series of simulated search‑and‑rescue (SAR) scenarios designed to assess their command skills, communication and decision‑making under pressure.
“It’s a very intense process and we would like to congratulate both Simon and Ben on this great achievement. They both successfully demonstrated the high level of competence required to command an RNLI all‑weather lifeboat.
“They are now fully qualified to take charge during training exercises and on lifesaving operations at sea. Well done!”
