Support / Safety Craft (SSC) & Rescue Boats (restricted to non-tidal / coastal locations) (RBR) are available for industrial, commercial and leisure duties. Specialist craft available for ‘blue-light’ call-out assistance.

Two-man teams include Coxswain and Able Bowman. A three-man team would include the former plus either an additional DEFRA Module 3 (Concept of Flood Operations guidelines) Rescue swimmer or medical first responder with full pre-hospital care kit including automatic external defibrillator and oxygen.

A ‘Utility / Service Craft (USC) operated by a single coxswain are also available for crew transfers and general ‘run-about’ duties.

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training on the water

Utility / Service and Support / Safety Craft / Rescue Boat Services (Restricted)

Vessels available

  • x1 Heavy displacement workboat 12 metres, 13 tons (USC)
  • x2 Rigid Raider Mk1 Beach Assault Craft – 5 metres (USC / SSC)
  • x1 Ionic Rapid full-inflation Rescue Boat – 4 metres (SSC / RBR)
  • x1 Aluminium heavy-duty work boat 4 metres (USC)
  • x1 Bombard C3 Commando Inflatable Rescue Boat – 3.8 metres (USC / SSC / RBR)
  • x1 Jeanneau 360 Newmatic Rigiflex 3.6 metres (USC / SSC)
  • x2 4-metre Swiftwater Rescue Sled (RBR & shore-based support)
x3 Rigid Raider Mk1 Beach Assault Craft – 5 metres
Zodiac Mil-Pro ‘Grand Raid’ Inflatable – 5 metres
Bombard C3 Commando Inflatable – 3.8 metres
Northcraft heavy-duty Rigid Inflatable – 5 metres
Zodiac Tender Inflatable – 2.8 metres
Jeanneau 360 Newmatic Rigiflex 3.6 metres
Aluminium heavy-duty work boat 4 metres

Utility / Service Craft. (USC)

Description

These vessels are not contracted to undertake a lifesaving role due to the basic level of equipment carried aboard, and the lower level of required qualifications to crew the vessel and the number of crew aboard.

They are ideal however, for crew transfers, bathymetric surveys, gaining access, offside vegetation works, bridge and structure inspections, events, security, and a range of other roles.

Many of the BMMS craft can undertake this role with the choice of vessel being dependent upon the role it is expected to provide. It can be crewed with one or two persons, environment dependant.

Availability restrictions This craft can only be deployed if the contractors / client’s Team(s) hold in-date DEFRA Module 1, or equivalent certification, and an agreed alternative rescue plan in place.

Crew qualification USC
  • RYA Inland Waterways Helmsman
  • RYA Powerboat Level 2
  • DEFRA Module 1
  • RYA First Aid
Availability restrictions
  • This craft can only be deployed if the contractors / client’s Team(s) have received DEFRA Module 1) training and alternative rescue plan in place.

Support / Safety craft (SSC)

Description

This is the type of cover best suited to lake, canal, or minor river-based commercial operations, and it allows for a certain amount of flexibility in its deployment. This vessel is a two-crew minimum role due to the ‘safety’ aspect, and man overboard (MOB) rescue and recovery considerations.

Unlike a ‘Rescue Boat,’ that must sit on station and not be used for any other purpose, the SSC set-up can be used for USC roles as well as providing basic medical support, casualty extraction, search, rescue, and recovery roles.

Availability restrictions This craft can only be deployed if the contractors / client’s Team(s) hold in-date DEFRA Module 1, or equivalent certification and have shore-based rescue equipment and procedures in place.

The SSC can assist / lead a rescue and is able to recover a casualty to the pre-arranged RV to hand over the Emergency Medical Services. (EMS).

The crew qualifications are higher:

Crew qualification SSC
  • RYA Inland Waterways Helmsman
  • RYA Powerboat Level 2
  • DEFRA Module 1) Annex ‘H’ Water Safety Rescue / MCA Ancillary Water Safety & Personal Survival
  • RYA First Aid at Work all Crew
  • Advanced First Aid 1x Crew member
  • Undertaken in-house Rescue Boat training based on DEFRA Module 4 skills
Equipment carried

(changes as the element of ‘Rescue’ cover increases).

  • Response vehicle (ERV) parked on station.
  • Man-Over-Board (MOB) recovery equipment
  • Spinal Board
  • Medical Kit + crew personal kit
  • Defibrillator
  • Survival Bag
  • Immersion Suit
  • VHF Radio (As appropriate)
Availability restrictions

This craft can only be deployed if the contractors / client’s Team(s) have received DEFRA Module 1) training and have shore-based rescue equipment and procedures in place. The SSC can assist / lead a rescue and is able to recover a casualty to the pre-arranged RV to hand over the Emergency Medical Services. (EMS).

Rescue Boat (Restricted) RBR

Non-tidal / coastal safety / rescue boat

Deployable to non-tidal, non-coastal locations. Crew attired in full Aquatic PPE to DEFRA Mod 2/3/4 specification dependant, a ‘rescue boat’ is a dedicated vessel and crew of two or three personnel, who hold a higher level of training.

Additional equipment is kept both aboard and in the support vehicle. A ‘standard’ two-man crew of Coxswain and ‘Able Bowman’ can be joined by a Medical First Responder and crews are qualified as below:

A ‘dedicated’ safety / rescue craft, that cannot be utilised in any other role. Generally, this type of operation is undertaken by the Ionic Rescue Inflatable or the Bombard C3 Commando.

Availability restrictions This craft can only be deployed if the contractors / client’s Team(s) have hold in-date DEFRA Module 1, or equivalent certification, are correctly attired in aquatic PPE, and full rescue plan and procedures are in place.

The RBR is on site to deliver a safety & rescue service only and can recover a casualty to the pre-arranged RV to hand over the Emergency Medical Services (EMS).

Crew qualification RBR
  • DEFRA Module 2, Water Rescue First Responder / 3, Water Rescue Technician
  • DEFRA Module 4, or, Inland Waters Rescue Boat Operator (Coxswain)
  • RYA Inland Waterways Helmsman #
  • RYA Powerboat Level 2 (Commercial endorsement not required for Category ‘A’ & ‘B’ Waters #)
  • IPOS / FPOS / FREC 3 Medical First Responder qualification

# MCA MERCHANT SHIPPING NOTICE MSN 1853 (M) Amendment 1, Annex 3

Equipment carried (changes as the element of ‘Rescue’ cover increases).
  • Man-Over-Board (MOB) recovery equipment
  • Spinal Board
  • Defibrillator
  • Survival Bag
  • Immersion Suit
  • Torch / Scene Lighting
  • VHF Radio
  • Full medical trauma kit including medical oxygen

Advice from the MCA was that vessels on Category ‘A’, ‘B’ and non-linked bodies of water are not required to be MCA Coded.

Availability restrictions

This craft can only be deployed if the contractors / client’s Team(s) have received DEFRA Module 1) training and have shore-based rescue equipment and procedures in place. The RBR on site to deliver a rescue service and can recover a casualty to the pre-arranged RV to hand over the Emergency Medical Services. (EMS).