July 01, 2025 - 494 views
The crew at Llandudno Lifeboat Station is proud to announce that Luke Heritage has officially qualified as a coxswain, following a successful pass-out assessment on 30th June. With Luke’s appointment, the station now has five coxswains.
The role of coxswain carries significant responsibility, taking command of the station’s all-weather lifeboat during emergency callouts and training exercises. The role involves leading a crew of four or five volunteers and ensuring all operations are carried out efficiently, professionally, and above all, safely.
Luke’s assessment was overseen by Coastal Trainer Simon Bunting and included a rigorous one-hour theory exam on RNLI policies, procedures, and collision regulations. This was followed by a demanding three-hour practical session at sea, where Luke had to demonstrate his leadership and problem-solving skills under pressure, dealing with simulated faults and a wide range of challenging scenarios.
Luke, who joined the RNLI in 2009, holds a variety of roles at Llandudno Lifeboat Station, including Senior Station Technician, Afloat Mechanic, Inshore Lifeboat (ILB) Helm, Launch Vehicle Driver, ILB Head Launcher, Casualty Carer, and Press Officer. He can now add the position of coxswain to that list.
Lifeboat Operations Manager, Capt. Marcus Elliott commented: "Luke has steadily taken on more responsibility over the years and continues to bring calm, confidence, and capability to everything he does. He’s a strong addition to the coxswain team, and we’re pleased to see him take on this new role."
