Mark Williams becomes RNLI navigator after years of hard work and training

Appledore RNLI congratulates crew member Mark Williams recently passed out as an all-weather lifeboat navigator.

The village’s RNLI team congratulated him for his efforts saying ‘no easy feat after months of hard work, training and exercising’.

Mark joined the Appledore Lifeboat crew back in 2007 and as with all new recruits, passed out as shore crew before moving on to become a boat crew member for both the inshore and all-weather lifeboats.

Since then he has progressed to become a launch and recovery vehicle driver, all-weather lifeboat mechanic and inshore lifeboat helm. Recently he became a fully passed out navigator as well.

Apart from volunteering with Appledore RNLI, for many years Mark has also been employed full time as a senior regional technician involved with the maintenance for all RNLI lifeguard and lifeboat equipment including boats, jet skis and launch and recovery equipment between Clovelly and Ilfracombe.

Bob Meller, Appledore Lifeboat operations manager, said: “We congratulate Mark who has passed out as a fully qualified navigator after many months of hard training.

“We also thank all the crew and trainers who have spent much time involved with his training and exercising, a real joint effort from the station.”

Mark also thanked all those who have spent so much time helping him.

To achieve his navigator qualification, Mark had to demonstrate to an external assessor a high standard of skill using charts, radar, AIS, GPS, buoyage, passage planning, search patterns and knowledge of local waters.

He has to be able to navigate the boat in all weathers including high seas, pitch dark and fog.

The final assessment takes place over many hours, both in a written exam and in practise on board the lifeboat.

An RNLI spokesman said: “The following day Mark’s skills were used for real in the second of two shouts, both in the pitch dark.

“Incidentally these two shouts on Wednesday, November 20, were also the first active shouts where Simon McCarthy was coxswain. Congratulations also go to Simon for successful outcomes.”