A report on the Hamble Rescue and their newly commissioned Lifeboat

A new fast lifeboat comes to the Solent. This boat will be based at Hamble Rescue and will operate from its base in the Hamble River. The new craft is a Halmatic Pacific 32 Rigid Inflatable.

Hamble Rescue was formed in 1968 by a group of local residents, fishermen and boatmen. This was in response to an increasing number of accidents and fatalities in the Hamble, Southampton Water and mid Solent areas. Despite very limited funding but with much support from the Parish Council and other local firms, the service got underway from a slip at Petters Hard, using a 17' Dory as its primary rescue boat. After a short period, the service moved to its present home at Hamble Hard where it is located today.

The Pacific 32 was delivered to Hamble Rescue in April 1995 and placed in their Boat House. Work commenced shortly afterwards with the fitting of two 330hp IVECO Diesel Turbo-charged engines.

In June 1996 the boat was taken to the European Work Boat Show at Port Solent, Portsmouth, where it was displayed on Halmatic's stand.

Hamble Rescue are an independent rescue operation and as such are responsible for raising all their own funds. During 1995 money was very tight because we were still providing 24 hour cover with `St. Andrew IV' whilst having to meet costs for finishing `St. Andrew V.'

Work on the new boat was under the control of Colin Olden who has been the engineer and Chief Coxswain for many years.

Our latest boat St. Andrew V (all the boats are named after local Parish Church of St. Andrew) is arguably the most modern and sophisticated marine Search and Rescue boat in the area today. On average Hamble Rescue responds to over 100 rescue incidents a year. During 1996 we responded to 10% of all calls received at HQ Solent Coastguard, a total of 131 shouts.

With this in mind, the specification was drawn up to provide a safe and reliable rescue boat, normally manned by a crew of three. Total team strength is only about 14 persons who receive no money or pay for their services.

For the technically minded, the specification of St. Andrew V is a Halmatic Pacific 32 (LOA of 33ft) RIB, powered by twin 330hp IVECO Turbo-charged Diesels. These engines drive Castoldi 238 water jets, which we have found to be very powerful and reliable, specific to this application. The weight of the boat is 4.5 tons with a full load of fuel. The boat is able to operate at a speed of 38 knots for a duration of 8 hours. Reductions in speed obviously extend the range of operations considerably.

By using water jets the boat can operate in shallow waters; having a draught of one metre and with a bollard pull of 2 tons. This allows assistance to be given to many casualties who finish up on the Bramble Bank which guards the entrance to Southampton Water.

Communications are maintained with a Sailor 2048 VHF. Navigation equipment includes: Cetrek GPS interfaced to a Cetrek Chart Plotter, plus Raytheon R20XX Radar, Autohelm Echo Sounder, Autohelm Fluxgate Compass and Raytheon Loud Hailer and P.A. system.

The crew are all fully trained to use all the equipment on the boat. Each Coxswain holds Board of Trade Certificates, plus all the crew are trained in First Aid and hold current First Aid at Sea Certificates. The normal response time for this boat is approximately 10 minutes from a pager call-out, and is available to go to sea in whatever conditions that can prevail in the Solent. To date, the boat has encountered winds gusting 60 knots and still delivered the crew safely and in a condition fit enough to carry out the task at hand.

The crew of Hamble Rescue have provided a service to many hundreds of mariners in the Solent and adjoining waters over the past 29 years. With St. Andrew V in service, we consider we have the finest and best equipped Inshore Lifeboat in the area, as she has the capacity to carry 25 persons in a sea state 8, or 5 stretcher cases on the aft deck.

The official dedication and launching service will be held on Friday 18th July 1997 at Hamble Hard on the River Hamble.

Any enquiries to:

Mr. J. O. Andrews, B.E.M., Press Officer for Hamble Rescue
172 Moorings Way, Milton, Southsea,
Hampshire.

Telephone/Fax: 01705 734513

Some of the rescues

Over the years Hamble Rescue have had calls to many incidents. A quick look at the figures for 1993 tell their tale.

159 call outs from 1st January to 18th December. This is an average of three shouts a week, during this period a total of 408 persons were assisted, and a number of bodies recovered.

The majority of the S.A.R. tasks undertaken have been in adverse weather conditions. The rescue of 4 people in December 1993 and their 38ft yacht which had grounded on the Brambles was notable; a full gale from the South West had put this craft on the Bramble Bank. Hamble Rescue were asked by the HM Coastguard to respond. With skill, the boat the power and sea keeping of the P30 proved its worth, with its twin diesel engines and shallow draft jet drives, Hamble Rescue were able to tow the yacht clear and take it to Cowes. During this operation gusts of 50+ knots had been recorded.

"NEBULA" a 32 ft converted ships boat with 5 persons on board: Hamble Rescue were paged about 0100 hours by Solent Coastguard, reporting that a motor boat with five persons on board had suffered engine failure off the Hook Shore (the area between the mouth of the Hamble and Hill Head) and was in danger of being blown ashore. It was blowing Force 5 - 6. Hamble Rescue located the craft ashore and closed the position. On arrival, it was found that one man had been blown overboard hitting his head on the beach which had knocked him out. The crew were advised that this man had just come out of hospital having been treated for a broken neck. The casualty was stabilised where he was on the beach, half in and half out of the water with a helicopter evacuation requested. Local ambulance crews could not reach the scene due to inaccessible access about 1 mile from the nearest track.

On arrival of the helicopter, the man was immobilized on a back board, placed in a stretcher and flown to hospital. The crew of Hamble Rescue re-boarded their boat having passed a tow line to the "Nebula" and towed her off the shore back into the Hamble. This whole operation was conducted on a rising tide and in darkness. It was later learned that the casualty had suffered minor damages to his neck – the pins in his neck from the previous operation had become misaligned – but after a period in hospital, he fully recovered.

HM Coastguard asked Hamble Rescue if they could assist the Hampshire Police boat with a high speed motor boat that was causing chaos in Southampton Water, the occupants were believed to be under the influence of alcohol. The ensuing chase was filmed by a TV crew in the Coastguard Helicopter, including attempts to ram the Police boat and Hamble Rescue. The craft was stopped and the owner was reported for various offences. Fortunately, no damage was done to Hamble Rescue or the Police boat.

It is difficult to quantify every rescue that is carried out. The board sailer who is tired is pleased to see Hamble Rescue come alongside; the powerboat racers who have just ploughed their boat under water at 80 knots, they are pleased to be hauled to safety onboard Hamble Rescue. However, the Lebanese deportee who escaped from custody on a ship and jumped over board in the Solent was not so pleased to see Hamble Rescue! He was hauled on-board, re­assured and handed over to the Port Authorities.

These are but a few of the incidents taken from the logs of Hamble Rescue. Since 1993, it is estimated that Hamble Rescue have assisted over 1,200 people not a bad record for a small independent Rescue Charity who have to raise all their own funds!

For further information, contact John Andrews, Tel/Fax 01705 734513