Guernsey Harbourmaster to investigate Jersey RNLI row

Wednesday 14 February 2018

The exact circumstances behind a breakdown in relations between the RNLI and the former St. Helier Lifeboat Crew, which led to the team walking out and forming their own sea rescue service, are to be probed in a new inquiry.

Guernsey’s Harbourmaster, Captain Chad Murray, will be in charge of undertaking that review.

The review will include gathering evidence from a number of other stakeholders outside of the RNLI and former St. Helier Crew, including other search and rescue services, such as the Jersey Coastguard. The former crew have declined to be involved.

According to the official Terms of Reference, which were shared with Express, Captain Murray will be tasked with specifically investigating:

• "The walkout of the St. Helier Lifeboat Station volunteer crew on 7th April 2017 following the dismissal, by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (the RNLI), of the St. Helier coxswain,

• The subsequent decision of the RNLI to reinstate the St. Helier coxswain on 28th June 2017, and

• The withdrawal from service of the St. Helier All-weather Lifeboat ‘George Sullivan’ on 17th November 2017."

Captain Murray is also set to review whether the States of Jersey's response to the situation was "sufficient to investigate the risk of lives being lost at sea... with a view to further improving the resilience of the island's capacity to save lives at sea."

This all comes following a months long battle between the RNLI and St. Helier crew, which began when coxswain Andy Hibbs was suspended from his position after allegedly breaking the charity’s code of conduct in April 2017.

Shortly after his dismissal, all 25 members of his crew walked out in support. Many members of Jersey's public rallied behind the coxswain of 25 years in a public protest, and a petition calling for his reinstatement gathered thousands of signatures. Many called for an independent review into exactly what went wrong. 

The row saw Guernsey's lifeboat crew called upon to cover Jersey waters, alongside its own. It was not until just before Christmas that Guernsey's crew was stood down from covering the additional area, and a new Jersey crew put in place.

Above: Andy Hibbs was reinstated as St Helier RNLI coxswain following a review, but later left the position to start a new organisation when relations became strained once more. 

Following an internal review by the RNLI, Mr Hibbs was reinstated, but the crew left again after stating that their relationship with the organisation had become irreparably damaged. The Spirit of Guernsey - the island's lifeboat - continued to cover the Jersey waters along with a French lifeboat during this time.

The former Jersey crew have since set up the Jersey Lifeboat Association, an alternative service which was incorporated in Jersey’s Royal Courts on 2 February this year.

While the saga has played out, islanders have largely been kept in the dark on the exact circumstances surrounding Mr Hibbs’ dismissal. It is hoped that the review will shed some light on this.

But the move to appoint Captain Murray to undertake the inquiry has already drawn criticism from those close to the Jersey Lifeboat Association and former St. Helier Crew, who feel that it may not be fully independent due to Mr Murray’s working relationship with the Ports of Jersey. 

When approached for comment, Guernsey's Harbourmaster said that all enquiries on the matter should be directed to the States of Jersey.

But States officials are yet to respond to requests for a comment.