RNLI Aldeburgh Lifeboat Night Exercise Launch And Recovery 15.3.22

The ‪@rnli‬ Mersey Class lifeboat "Freddie Cooper" launch and recovery on a night exercise in March 2022. Although a lot is mentioned about the crew of the boats, I hope that this video shows the importance of having a shore crew to get the boat afloat and recovered again.

Aldeburgh Lifeboat Station currently operates two lifeboats. The All weather Lifeboat is a Mersey-class lifeboat and is called the Freddie Cooper (ON 1193) and has been on station since November 1993. The lifeboat is 38 feet long and is self-righting. She is powered by two 285 hp turbo charged Caterpillar 3208T diesel engines and she has a range of 140 nautical miles. These two engines push the boat through the water to a top speed of 16 knots. Fully laden she weighs 13 tons and she is operated by a volunteer crew of six. The Lifeboat has a capacity to rescue 43 survivors (self-righting up to 21). She was purchased using a bequest to the RNLI from the late Mrs Winifred Cooper in memory of her husband Freddie.

The inshore lifeboat Christine has been on service at Aldeburgh since April 2007. This boat was funded by the bequest of Florence Winifred Kemp in memory of her daughter. The Christine normally has a crew of three or 4 and is powered by a 50 hp outboard engine. She is capable of a top speed of 25 knots. She has the capability to be beached easily with an easy refloat and is ideal for rescues close to shore and on the sandbanks which are along the coast at Aldeburgh.