RNLI Llandudno's 'Andy Pearce' Mersey Class Lifeboat

In late September 2017, Llandudno's new Shannon Class Lifeboat William F Yates is due to arrive on station and will be housed in the new boathouse currently being completed at Craig-y-Don near the Little Orme. Within a few weeks of this occurring, Llandudno's current Mersey class carriage launched lifeboat Andy Pearce will be withdrawn from station marking the end of a long history of the town's lifeboats being pulled through the town to be launched by horses, manpower or tractor. Llandudno is the now the only All-weather lifeboat station in the British Isles with a lifeboat kept in the centre of a town. To mark this historic change, TV Conwy have kindly produced a video which we hope you will enjoy. We are very grateful to TV Conwy for their support with this project.

[@mmmbilly]

Imagine going through all that massive recovery faff, only to get called out again straight away…..

[@Four_Words_And_Much_More]

What a clever piece of marine engineering. It may not have been originally conceived by professional engineers. But it seems almost certain that engineers built the carriage and specified a unique tractor. The tractor is a one of the kind. I have deep knowledge of tractors and I have never seen one like this. It is short, heavy and powerful. The cab is unique and certainly has a communication system that is anything but run of the mill. There is a lot of coordination happening from the tractor once the boat is on the beach and being towed out of the wave zone. I am impressed by the cleverness of the British. They have some of the best engineers and thinkers the world has to offer. The fact that these ideas have evolved over a period of a hundred years is no surprise to me. I am a professional engineer with broad experience that includes extensive development in and near the ocean. Nice video. Better thinking. Congratulations to those thinkers who put these ideas together.

[@warrenrae32]

Wouldn’t it be better to have the local police involved to stop traffic at main junctions as soon as a shout comes in to speed up the launching? All the same full respect to crew and support workers for carrying it out so smoothly!!

[@nevillemason6791]

I remember seeing a photo of the day the lifeboat was being towed to an emergency launch and a coach (without the driver) was double parked in Lloyd Street. It couldn't get past and there was an urgent search for the driver (presumably in some hotel or boarding house). Now the new boat house is right on the edge of the beach a lot of time is saved.

[@AndyCutright]

Holy cow, the drills for systems failure must be intense. And each position has to train and qualify I imagine. Comms operators, rescuers, pilots, .. Wow, the dedication from volunteers. Just amazing folks.

[@petermostyneccleston2884]

This is the way that the Lifeboat used to be carried out. There is now a new Lifeboat, of the Shannon Class, in a new Lifeboat station, on the North Shore. The old Lifeboat station is to small for the Shannon class Lifeboat, so a new one has been built. The Andy Pierce has been used as a reserve boat for the last year.

[@williamlawrenson8345]

Saw the new station on a visit to Llandudno last week. Must be much better for all.

[@markspahr242]

How did you get Michael Palin to do this video. Asking for a friend.

[@trecker59]

What a greai vid by skiled brave lads

[@Andrew-mv5kt]

For those wondering: we now have a new lifeboat here, which is housed in a new station right on the sea front (which can be seen here kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4fJlqqPbregiZI)

[@Belltown]

Surely blue lights and siren would be appropriate. It was stopping for taxis.

[@CymruEmergencyResponder]

They have blue lights and sirens.

[@donaldwainwright]

I work will the local dairy delivering milk to the cafeteria's and guest houses the guy who drove the milk float was Cox of the lifeboat he explained to me why it was there North shore and south shore equal distance between both

[@ringocomedynews5825]

My House parent was part of the RNLI in Llandudno

[@2010gtoner]

good vid and a bit mad.

[@maddogharper01]

Good drills, great bit of kit, awful music.

[@q.e.d.9112]

MARK HARPER LOL! Philistine!

[@lynnshirley]

Very interesting Video. Thankyou.

[@johnymoises7834]

Un saludo cordial desde Calama Chile tierra de sol y cobre.y del desierto más árido del mundo.

[@MrJimbaloid]

Only in Wales.

[@katherinekinnaird4408]

God bless you brave brave men.

[@williamPearcewill]

Surely the traffic problem could solved with blue lights and sirens

[@joelwhitaker2274]

RNLI launch vehicles have blue lights

[@williamPearcewill]

@@joelwhitaker2274 I'm pretty sure they have restrictions on there use

[@joelwhitaker2274]

@@williamPearcewill They can be used for the launching of lifeboats. It is specifically written into law.

[@alansohn855]

Honestly just build new stations for each RNLI lifeboat so there's no need to transport the boats.

[@joneseyce]

They've built a new one now.

[@joelw4715]

That isn’t practical for many stations because of the coast they cover.

[@chrisboek2346]

The entire program for this service that is provided is all from donations the boats and the housing etc is all from donations so it's not cost effective for that

[@alansohn855]

@@chrisboek2346 Actually progress toward the plan has been made, the lifeboat in the video for example got shut down and replaced with a new lifeboat with a ramp.

[@johnevans7389]

Not any more, they have moved.

[@christiangeiselmann]

Beautiful tractor!

[@paulcookies]

Sorry, that seems unnecessary, why like that?

[@CymruEmergencyResponder]

because it was necessary

[@toasterhavingabath6980]

Two beaches either side of the town.

[@DarrenWalley]

Oh, the brave cross channel migrant taxi service.

[@wildkev1010]

Are those windmills out on the horizon on land or at sea?

[@thegeneral3094]

I can remember eating a sea slug on that beach

[@toasterhavingabath6980]

what?

[@toasterhavingabath6980]

HEY. EVERONE. THIS LIFEBOAT STATION IS GONE NOW. AND LLANDUDNO HAS TWO BEACHES EITHER SIDE OF THE CITY. ITS NOT AS DAMN SIMPLE AS YOU THINK.

[@toasterhavingabath6980]

Also. The rnli is a charity, not part of the government.

[@Nog311]

Very professional video.

[@Grumszy]

God bless every lifeboat crew... They do a fantastic job.

[@patagualianmostly7437]

Mmm.....It's now 2024......????

[@MegaBoilermaker]

They are very lucky to have such a competent and experienced Mechanic/Engineer.

[@joseph-mariopelerin7028]

??? you must be kidding! I thought they hire the idiots of the village from all the technology and technic they use... getting rid of that ww2 style tractor would be an easy improvement, to keep one boat on each beaches would be a competent choice,

[@MegaBoilermaker]

Low tech = high reliability. The RNLI is also a charity so has limited financial resources.

[@joseph-mariopelerin7028]

Still, it seems to me there is a awful lot of things that can go wrong when you rely on a tractor ride to go across the entire city... with a so low budget, why don't they live on the boat in the water... others do...

[@sarahann530]

@@joseph-mariopelerin7028 Because the crew is made up of volunteers you ignorant bellend

[@joelw4715]

joseph-mario pelerin because the tide goes out.....which would leave the boat stranded.....

[@liorlotr]

just keep it in a port

[@CymruEmergencyResponder]

Can’t do that when the nearest port is miles away and the tide goes out too far to be moored afloat here.

[@toasterhavingabath6980]

Dont have a port

[@thameswater2561]

seems to me it takes to long, get rid of it or move the Boat House nearer the Beach.

[@CymruEmergencyResponder]

thameswater you are clueless. Moving the boathouse closer would not make a difference!

[@thameswater2561]

your reply say`s it all, you have no idea at all.

[@CymruEmergencyResponder]

thameswater I think I do considering I’m ex Mersey Class Lifeboat crew! They are designed to be operated from places with shallow beaches are tides that go out far. If there is a shallow beach then moving closer to the water will be pointless and so will mooring afloat as the boat won’t be able to move. It is tractor launched so that it can be pushed out to a suitable depth.

[@CymruEmergencyResponder]

Vewser most Mersey Class stations are on the beach.

[@CymruEmergencyResponder]

Vewser the reason this station is in the middle of town is because the town has two beaches, one either side of it. Having the station in the middle of town puts it equidistant between the two thus giving them a choice of launch sites depending on the sea state, direction the shout it in etc...

[@barnabyg6808]

I’m not going to lie the launch and recovery seem like a serious faf for something that has to be done on average every 10 days ish

[@benjaminwilde6541]

I've looked into these for Hours and I still don't understand why the boat isn't kept in the water all the time.

[@vernonfewtrell5735]

They have two different coasts to deal with quite a distance apart

[@CymruEmergencyResponder]

Because the tide range in the U.K. can be substantial. The boat would be stranded half of the time. Also, many places with lifeboats (Such as Llandudno) do not have harbours. Also maintenance. Keeping the boat ashore allows for constant maintenance on the entire boat.

[@SuckasNeverPlayMe]

Omg are you thick or what

[@benjaminwilde6541]

@@SuckasNeverPlayMe Dummy Thicc

[@SuckasNeverPlayMe]

@@benjaminwilde6541 lmao... You can't even spell it... Dummy

[@Cal97g]

Here's an idea.. why don't they keep the lifeboat in the sea?

[@CymruEmergencyResponder]

Because the tide range in the U.K. can be substantial. The boat would be stranded half of the time. Also, many places with lifeboats (Such as Llandudno) do not have harbours. Also maintenance. Keeping the boat ashore allows for constant maintenance on the entire boat

[@SuckasNeverPlayMe]

You absolute womble

[@kendesjarlais7577]

good grief by the time they'd get a call and in the water on its way---- all souls would be lost

[@christomlin3957]

What a complete waste of time and could be a waste of life.

[@jimfoley6261]

What a stupid long complicated procedure. It could only take the English

[@andreejor]

Llandudno is in Wales.

[@jimfoley6261]

Andrew Jordan English Scottish Welsh. That are all English. You wouldn’t want to be in a hurry drowning.

[@joelw4715]

Jim Foley Wales and Scotland are separate countries with their own national identities. They are not England.

[@toasterhavingabath6980]

​@@jimfoley6261WALES IS NOT PART OF ENGLAND. IT IS PART OF BRITAIN. PLEASE.

[@donnyinalaska]

when minutes matter, doing it this way is worthless... build a simple dock for crying out loud ... it aint rocket science ...

[@CymruEmergencyResponder]

Can’t moor the lifeboat afloat in a town where the tide goes out far.....because then the boat would be on the bottom half the time and not able to be used. Different lifeboat stations have different types of lifeboat for a reason.....

[@CymruEmergencyResponder]

Lifeboats are often also not moored afloat because they require high intensity maintenance which is done by the permanent mechanic on station. The tide in places that are equipped with carriage launch lifeboats like this Mersey Class in the video can often go out well over a mile. Having the boat carriage launched means that the boat can be launched in the most suitable place for its tasking. We are drilled and know what we are doing. We use this method for a reason.

[@scottcarson1973]

a transport truck with a custom flatbed be far better set up driving it on paved roads all the way to the water no need for the track bulldozer set up to slow and pile of matemence

[@MrJimbaloid]

And who's paying for this bloody waste of time and money?

[@MrJimbaloid]

Sorry ragnor56 if I came across a bit grumbly but wouldn't somewhere a bit nearer the sea make more sense?

[@MrJimbaloid]

My heartfelt tx to you RAGNOR56 I've looked into this and MY GOD the volunteers really we're up against it. I have to bite my own words and salute you all.

[@MrJimbaloid]

Many tx ragnor56 keep up the good work and sorry for my grumpiness

[@stanleylayton5608]

u are

[@MrJimbaloid]

@@stanleylayton5608 YES Stan NEVER comment until you have seen the vid or you look stupid like me. ATB.

[@joseph-mariopelerin7028]

wtf is that!!!?? like... a queen custom no one want to get rid of? knock knock.... ! yes there is much more efficient way to launch and recover a boat ffs.... what a useless ceremonial that sure can cost life.

[@CymruEmergencyResponder]

joseph-mario pelerin you are clueless.

[@joseph-mariopelerin7028]

JW... of course, that's not a comment since you are clueless also 🍩

[@CymruEmergencyResponder]

Don't think so because i am ex Mersey Class Lifeboat Crew! I have worked on these boats! They are launched and recovered like this for a reason!

[@joseph-mariopelerin7028]

Despite what I said, I do believe there is a reason... just like there was a reason to invade Iraq... from here, the only reason I see is to save a dollars on infrastructure, or maybe the Union is involved so the driver team don’t loose their job...

[@CymruEmergencyResponder]

joseph-mario pelerin they are all volunteers so there is no ‘job’ to lose. What infrastructure? The beaches that the Mersey Class is designed to launch from are shallow beaches and/or beaches where the waterline recedes far out at low tide. They are carriage launched so that in those conditions the tractor can take the boat to where the water is of a suitable depth to launch! And actually during an emergency it doesn’t take long at all.