BVI hosts maritime search and rescue training for Caribbean OTs

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), in partnership with His Majesty’s Coastguard, recently conducted a two-week search and rescue training course for maritime protection crews across several Caribbean Overseas Territories.

The course, which ran from January 13 to January 24, brought together rescuers from the Virgin Islands Search and Rescue (VISAR) alongside maritime crews from Anguilla, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Montserrat, and Turks and Caicos.

Designed as a “train-the-trainer” programme, the course aimed to enhance search and rescue capabilities through simulated operations. The training incorporated theory-based learning, tabletop exercises, and hands-on practical sessions. According to the Virgin Islands Government, the goal was to equip participants with knowledge they could pass on in their respective territories.

Sharing expertise

RNLI’s Senior International Programmes Manager, David Whiddon, expressed satisfaction with the partnership and its broader significance.

“We are proud to work closely with HM Coastguard across the UK, and we’ve built on this partnership to support organisations across the overseas territories,” Whiddon stated.

He highlighted the RNLI’s mission to share its expertise globally: “The RNLI’s international work focuses on sharing our knowledge and lifesaving expertise to help build organisations’ capacity to save even more lives from drowning, which sadly takes 300,000 lives a year around the world.”

Whiddon also acknowledged the mutual benefits of the training, noting that the RNLI gains valuable insights from collaborating with international teams.

“Search and rescue organisations around the world face similar challenges, and by working together and sharing knowledge to develop common solutions, we can continue to save even more lives globally,” he said.

He extended gratitude to VISAR and the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) Marine Unit for hosting the event.

Maritime safety

Phil Aspinall, Operations Manager of VISAR, emphasised the value of shared experiences and RNLI’s extensive history in maritime rescue.

“The biggest takeaway for me was that the challenges we all face in this industry are similar across jurisdictions. Yet, solutions have evolved slightly differently, often due to equipment and personnel availability,” Aspinall explained. “To have the RNLI’s 200-plus years of experience to guide and steer all of us is an incredible and valuable opportunity that we truly appreciate,” he added.

Governor Daniel Pruce also praised the initiative, underscoring its importance in maintaining international search and rescue standards.

“This type of training is vital to ensuring our crews are up to date with international industry standards so they can provide the best service possible to the territories. Having observed a search and rescue exercise in VI waters, I know we are all in safe hands,” Pruce stated, thanking the RNLI and UK Coastguard for their role in the training.

Now in its third year, the RNLI-led training was held in Tortola, reinforcing regional efforts to strengthen maritime safety and emergency response.