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Visit to the RNLI College at Poole
Yesterday Sally and I took a trip to Poole, Dorset, to visit the RNLI College. The purpose of the trip was for us to meet many of the people that are involved with the trip especially the MOB Guardian people and to see the MOB Guardian Control Room and to speak to the controllers so I can get a clear understanding of how the system works.
We had a very interesting day. The New MOB Guardian Control Room is very state-of-the-art and after talking to the controllers we came away with several points…
- It was a clear indication of how seriously the RNLI is taking MOB Guardian.
- MOB Guardian is a 24/7/365 monitored system and that is a great comfort to anyone using the system… that someone is there should you need them at ANY TIME.
- The position data is kept confidential. Not even the controllers can see the position of a boat except in an emergency. The RNLI take position data confidentiality very seriously indeed.
- At just 70p per day it is GREAT value for money to any fisherman knowing that if he has a serious problem at sea (injured and incapacitated, goes overboard etc) then literally within minutes help will be on the way.
- Although developed primarily for the fishing industry it is a great system to have on a leisure boat and it is available for leisure boaters too.
I was totally convinced of the benefit of MOB Guardian to the small boat fisherman but now I have seen the control room and spoken to the operators and seen the commitment that the RNLI is making I am even more enthusiastic to show people the system on my boat as I go round Britain. So if you want to visit me when I at a port near you just get in touch with the Fishing Safety team at the RNLI and they will put you in touch with my… or just drop in when I am in port - I would be very pleased to see you.
