Shouts

It's called many different things, a Call-out, a Rescue, a Service Launch & a 'Shout', what-ever it's called the aim is the same; to Save Lives at Sea.

All operational volunteers at Cromer lifeboat station carry a pager so they can be alerted to a launch request for either the inshore or offshore lifeboat.

A launch request is usually received from the Coastguard, Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre or MRCC, and will be directed to the Lifeboat Operations Manager or LOM, in his absence the Deputy Launching Authority or DLA will be contacted.

With casualty details given, the MRCC & LOM will decide which is the best vessel to send, depending on;
the type of casualty, weather conditions, time of day & distance from station.

With this information either the Coastguard or the LOM will set off the pager system which will then inform the station volunteers about the launch request, showing either "LAUNCH ALB" or "LAUNCH ILB" on the pager screen.

At this point the volunteers will make their way to the lifeboat station and prepare the vessel for immediate launch. We have no special rights when driving an must abide by the road traffic laws, just like everybody else, though you may see cars with their headlights on full beam during the day and possibly sounding their horn, crew vehicles will normally have a crew sticker in the front window and sometimes a sign saying;

The relevant casualty details will be passed to the Coxswain or Helmsman, depending on which lifeboat has been requested. A dynamic risk assessment & crew briefing will take place shortly before launching, so both boat and shore crew are aware of each others intentions and the lifeboat is then launched.

While the lifeboat is at sea the crew at the station will determine roughly how long the lifeboat will be out and prepare for recovery accordingly.

If the lifeboat has been out for a long time the crew will get a "Crew Assemble" pager message, in time to set-up for recovery of the returning vessel.

Once ashore the lifeboat will be re-fuelled, washed down, re-housed and made ready for service again.