Howth RNLI crew complete key assessments and launch on rescue mid-assessment

It’s been a busy and successful week at Howth RNLI, with several crew members completing vital operational assessments — including one who was called out on a rescue mid-assessment.

Ian Martin was officially passed out this week as Coxswain of the station’s Trent-class all-weather lifeboat, following the successful completion of all required assessments.

Ian’s achievement marks a significant milestone in his RNLI career, recognising the experience, leadership, and dedication required to take command of the lifeboat in challenging conditions.

RNLI trainer/assessor Stephen McNulty with Ian Martin, newly qualified coxswain of Howth All-Weather Lifeboat

Also completing assessments were Stephen Mullaney, Aidan Murphy, and Gabriel Fitzpatrick, who undertook various practical and theoretical evaluations in their roles as crew on Howth’s D-class inshore lifeboat.

RNLI trainer/assessor Stephen McNulty and Howth RNLI crew member Stephen Mullaney at Howth Lifeboat station

While Stephen Mullaney was undertaking the shore-based component of his navigation assessment, the crew’s pagers sounded at 18:58 on Tuesday 10th June, with a report of two teenagers cut off by the rising tide at Baldoyle Estuary.

Stephen immediately joined the response.

The inshore lifeboat launched with three crew on board and quickly located the teenagers stranded on a sand spit. The crew took them on board and brought them safely ashore to Baldoyle before returning to station.

Once back at the boathouse, Stephen resumed and successfully completed the rest of his navigation assessment alongside the RNLI trainer/assessor.

Howth RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager Colm Newport said:

“This has been a great week for the station.

“We’re extremely proud of Ian, Stephen, Aidan and Gabriel for the hard work and commitment they’ve shown in their training and assessments.

“The fact that Stephen went from test to rescue and back again is a real example of what being part of the RNLI is all about — readiness, professionalism and dedication to saving lives at sea.”

The RNLI is a charity that saves lives at sea.

All crew members at Howth RNLI are volunteers who train regularly to be ready to respond 24/7, in all conditions.