The Galway RNLI’s lifeboat, Binny, is back on the water after undergoing a €100,000 re-fit with the latest in life-saving technology.
Situated on the Dun Aengus docks, the Galway branch of the RNLI have gone about their work for almost 22 years providing an essential, and at times, a live-saving service to those in distress.
They recently received a routine upgrade of their boat, ‘Binny’ and Operations Manager, Mike Swan says the Atlantic 85 model is now in tip-top shape for any challenges it may face in the next few years.
“In the refit they strip the boat right down, and basically build it as if it was brand new again. Any new advances in technology or any aides that might help in the search and rescue of craft or people are put on the boat.
“There’d be about 100 boats in the whole fleet spread around Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales. Every five or six years our boat will go back for a refit.
“You’re looking at two new engines, a new navigation system, and a new chart plotter.’’
Mr Swan revealed the funding for the refit came entirely from public donations. It means that the boat is always ready to go at a moment’s notice, which is especially important given they may need to help other units.
“We’re lucky in Galway Bay in that we have the Aran Islands and they have an all-weather boat. In the south of the bay over in Doolin, there’s a coastguard unit and also in Ros a’ Mhíl there’s a coastguard unit.
“If there’s an incident we can go to help them, likewise, which has happened many a time, the coastguard units have come in and aided us.
“We work really as a team, all the agencies, and we work very close together and we do a lot of training together and it pays dividends.’’
The unit had 23 launches last year although some of these consisted of several trips on the water. The Galway crew was also involved in the rescue of 14 people. It can be challenging for the volunteer group, but it’s something that they are very happy to do.
“You never know what’s going to come across your path. One year you could be busy, the next you could be very quiet, but we average in the 20s for launches. It’s diverse really, you don’t know what you’re going to get or when it might happen.
“We are totally voluntary. We have a team of about 25 but people are working and people are away. So to keep it going, that basically you’re on call ready to go 365, is great for the city.’’
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