RNLI’s Sea Survival Centre for hire
The UK’s Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has a sea survival pool at its Lifeboat College in Poole which is one of the largest specialist facilities of its type anywhere in the world.
The 25m long tank is 12.5m wide and 4m deep. It looks fairly benign when not in use but with the wave generator producing 1.5m waves, blackout blinds creating total darkness, wind and water spray machines at full pelt and an AV sound system cranked up, the total effect is of being in a very real storm at sea.
The tank’s primary purpose is to conduct sea survival training for RNLI All Weather Lifeboat crews and capsize training for RNLI Inshore Lifeboat crews. However, when not being used for training the RNLI’s volunteer crews, the tank can be utilised for a variety of third party purposes, including film production, equipment testing, capsize training, personal survival technique courses for external organisations and members of the public. Equipment for testing is lifted into the facility by an overhead gantry crane which services all of the tank and immediate surrounding area. The facility is also available for corporate Teambonding and Teambuilding activities under the guidance of the RNLI’s specialist trainers.
One of the most popular activities is the RNLI Sea Survival Experience. The RNLI developed team building event gives participants a hands-on taster of the training that lifeboat crews undergo.
Recognising that working as a team is such a strong element of sea survival training, one of the RNLI trainers suggested that it could be adapted as a team building product for corporate clients. As a result, the RNLI Sea Survival Experience was developed. All the elements of sea survival training for lifeboat crews are included. In fact, the only difference is the RNLI Sea Survival Experience is a half-day event, whereas lifeboat crews receive a full day of training with more time spent on techniques.
Most of the half day event takes place in the sea survival pool at the Lifeboat College in Poole. After poolside drills and safety briefings, participants don standard RNLI kit and take to the pool. As worsening sea conditions are simulated, participants must work as team as they ‘abandon ship’, inflate and get into a liferaft, and attract the attention of the ‘helicopter’ rescue before being winched to ‘safety’. The result is a team-building event that is meaningful and memorable.
Whilst the RNLI Sea Survival Experience has been developed to be enjoyable and fun, it is also challenging. By experiencing first-hand the training that lifeboat crews rely on every day to save lives at sea, participants are taken out of their comfort zone. Team members see each other in new and sometimes surprising ways. And after completing the experience, participants feel a great sense of pride, there is increased camaraderie among the team and a feeling that ‘anything is possible’.
In addition, as well as benefiting from high-quality facilities and trainers, clients taking up the RNLI Sea Survival Experience can also meet their CSR objectives, as every pound spent at the Lifeboat College helps the RNLI save lives at sea.
For further information contact the RNLI specialist training team on Tel: +44 (0)1202 662261 or Email: tlc_events@rnli.org.uk
