Skerries RNLI visit Swedish Lifeboat Station

Lifeboat crews work as a team.  A tight knit crew.  The crew and management team at the lifeboat station in Skerries, North County Dublin are no different; and they work hard at keeping the team spirit alive and well.   Once a year the crew make a special effort to get away from their own station and environment to visit another response unit abroad – they call it ‘team building and to see how it’s done elsewhere’.  It’s always been a hugely popular weekend away and straws have to be drawn to leave teams behind in the event of a shout.

Nobody gets nominated for the task of organising, but usually around September or October, at the Thursday evening crew get-together, talk turns to where the team will go and usually someone steps up to the mark.  This year Eoin McCarthy, Helmsman at Skerries Lifeboat Station, decided that he would do the organizing and the crew decided on a visit to their counterparts in Sweden.  As with the RNLI, the SSRS (Swedish Sea Rescue Society) is a non-governmental voluntary institution similar to Ireland and this year, the SSRS in Sweden is celebrating 100 years service.  This is a momentous occasion, not least because the RNLI is handing over Presidency of the International Maritime Rescue Federation to the SSRS.  The Swedish Sea Rescue Society is a non-governmental Swedish voluntary institution founded in 1907. In 2006 the SSRS was deployed and carried out approximately 70% of all rescue missions in Swedish waters. Approximately 85% of all missions were made in response to distress calls from pleasure boats. Commercial vessels stand for the remaining 15%.

After scrolling the internet and sourcing the SSRS website, Eoin picked out the town of Stromstaad and sent an e-mail off into the unknown.  The positive response he got back from the Operations Director of the station in Stromstaad, Klas Johansson, kick-started the planning phase and Eoin put a huge amount of personal time and effort into getting the whole weekend organized, from transport to and from the airport, to flights for 24 people, down to accommodation in Gothenburg.  Every detail was covered.

Klas had advised that the station in Stromstaad and their neighbouring station, Fjallbacka, would welcome a visit from the Skerries crew.  And so it was that on Friday, 9th March, 22 crew and 2 committee flew to Gothenburg.  Looking back, all agree that they were expecting to thoroughly enjoy the weekend, but nothing could have prepared them for the welcome and the generosity of all those they met.

On arrival the Skerries team were met by 2 coxwains from the crew at Fjallbacka. Thomas and Johan, and taken by luxury coach (provided by the SSRS) to their hotel.  After a sight seeing stroll around central Gothenburg, a typical Swedish evening meal and a few beers, it was an early night for the Skerries crew.  According to Thomas and Johan, the Stromstaad and Fjallbacka station had a busy day planned for the visiting crew.

The city of Stromstaad has a population of c. 16,000 and lies on the Kosterfjorden fjord on the west coast of Sweden.  The fjord also has approx 120 islands and both Stromstaad and Fjallbacka stations both cover these waters and islands.  Approx 5000 live in the city of Stromstaad and the remaining 11000 live in the outskirts and outlying districts.  Last year, the crew based at Stromstaad took part in aproximately 320 missions of which, 35-40 SAR (search and rescue) missions, 75 paramedic mission from people living on the islands. The rest is service missions or missions where people broke down on the fjord and needed to be towed. 

An early breakfast and a 1.5hour coach journey took the crew from Gothenburg to Stromstaad, stopping en route at Fjallbacka, where the Skerries team split up.  Some traveled on to Stromstaad by rescue boat whilst the others continued on the bus.  Weather was grey and unsettled but no colder than Dublin, a pleasant surprise for the crew.  Winds were clocking up to about a force 4.

When the team re-united at Stromstaad, the team were given a tour of the facilities.  Three recue boats stood by awaiting the start of the exercise – 1 Norweigan boat and 2 Swedish.  The rescue boats used in Sweden are the Swedish Viktoria-class and weight c. 12 ton.  The team were shown the two boats proposed for use in the various exercises planned for that day.  The ”Rescue Minlouis” and “Rescue Gustaf B. Thordén” are named after Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden.  Specifications show that they are 12 by 4 meters with a draught of 0,7 meters with an average speed of 32 knots with a maximum of 39.  These boats are powered by Scania and Volvo and both have Rolls Royce self cooling water jets. 

Once out on the water, the Irish crew thoroughly appreciated the difference between these waters and their own on the Irish sea.  As the exercise got underway, the extent of the Swedish organization became evident.  The Skerries crew split up between the two Stromstaad rescue boats and rapid response vehicles similar to jet skis.  It appeared that the SSRS had worked hard to get an all round exercise for the visitors.  The Stromstaad station had also asked its Norweigan neighbouring station to take part, which they did.  The SSRS Sikorski 991 helicopter also played a huge part in the day. The joint forces of both Swedish and Norweigan rescue services, along with the Skerries RNLI team insured a very well rounded set of exercises took place over the day and included stretcher lifts, search and rescue etc.  A lot of discussions took place between individuals and the various methods employed by all. 

In the midst of the training exercise, the Norweigan rescue boat was called away - on a rescue!

It wasn't all work for the team, however.  Their Swedish counterparts had managed to provide a special lunch on the island of Sydkoster in a restaurant of the same name. A lovely, steaming hot Swedish stew and plenty of it.  The evening held another Swedish treat and the Stromstaad crew had lined up a marvelous traditional evening meal of 40lbs of local prawns was laid on.  During the evening a presentation was made to Klas Johansson, who not only Operations Director, but also Helms one of the Swedishboats based at Stromstaad.  The Lifeboat Operations Manager from Skerries, Niall McGrotty, presented Klas with a photo depicting all the various type of lifeboat craft used in Ireland.  The picture also showed the Irish Coastguard helicopter.  Klas thanks the Irish crew and a fantastic's nights entertainment followed by boat crews on the more traditional Irish lines of a sing song and yarn telling.  

Many friendships were formed during this visit and the SSRS Stromstaad and Fjallbacka have promised to visit the Skerries RNLI Lifeboat Station.  Our thanks go to all involved in arranging a worthwhile and marvelous visit, with special thanks going to Klas, Thomas, Johan, Anja, Iewan and not least Richard.