RNLI: Fishermen learn the importance of lifejackets in sea survival training course

A rescue charity is delivering a sea survival training course in Aberdeen to raise awareness of the importance of wearing lifejackets.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) training programme aims to increase survival chances of those who end up in the water.

Taking place at a specialised training pool which recreates conditions at sea, fishermen will find out first-hand how long they can last in water with and without a lifejacket.

Fishing safety manager Frankie Horne and his team have been delivering the course in Aberdeen following its success last year.

He told STV News: “The lifejacket is only viable once you’re in the sea, but the unpredictable nature of going overboard, you just don’t know when it’s going to happen.

“Most of our casualties in the fishing industry are man overboard situations, so that’s what we’re trying to stamp out.”

The pool replicates the conditions fishermen would see at sea as closely as possible, using wind and wave machines.

Participants are required to wear clothing similar to what they would have wear on the boat.

They are asked to first enter the water without a lifejacket, then again while wearing one, to compare the differences in their physical ability to stay afloat and climb out of the pool.

Calum Lawrie is an account manager at 3t Training Services in Aberdeen, where the latest course was held.

He said: “It does depend on the conditions, but you’d last around ten minutes in the North Sea, that’s the current estimate.

“The harsh reality is that you really don’t have long to be making decisions, if you do end up in the water you need to know what to do in that environment and to do it quickly.”

Those attending the course in Aberdeen say they’ll think twice about not wearing the equipment on board.

Callum Grant from Troon said: “I would usually never wear one unless its bad weather but now after doing this course I will wear it. It changes your mindset.”

Fellow West Coast fishermen, Craig Davidson added: “We would wear a lifejacket at all times, but after doing this I would really be encouraging everyone to do so, it’s so important.”

Some of those taking part in the latest training in Aberdeen know all too well the dangers of the sea.

Scott Houston, who also fishes along the West Coast, said a previous experiences encouraged him to do the course.

He said: “We had an accident last year, so I wanted to come here to be on the safe side to be thinking about the scenarios rather than thinking, ‘well, it would never happen to me,’. Because it could.

“Getting as much safety training as you can is important.”