ANYONE watching the entrance to the Milford Haven Waterway on Saturday morning (March 22) might have thought a serious maritime emergency was unfolding — but the presence of three RNLI Tamar class lifeboats was, in fact, part of a major pre-planned training exercise.

The dramatic display saw all-weather lifeboats from Tenby, Angle, and St Davids RNLI stations working together in challenging conditions, simulating a complex rescue scenario. The exercise was coordinated by Milford Haven Coastguard and centred around a mock emergency in which a person had reportedly fallen overboard from a vessel in the area.

Observers saw the three 25-knot-capable Tamar lifeboats manoeuvring in tight formation and conducting detailed search patterns as they combed the sea for the “casualty” — all while accounting for strong tidal currents, wind, and the busy marine traffic of one of the UK’s key ports.

The drill was designed not only to test individual crew skills but also to enhance inter-station cooperation in the kind of multi-agency emergency that could happen at any time along the Pembrokeshire coast.

The casualty was ultimately located and retrieved by the Tenby lifeboat crew, marking a successful conclusion to the scenario. Once the operation was complete, the three crews met up on the water to debrief and review the exercise before returning to their respective stations.

A spokesperson for Tenby RNLI said: “This exercise was a great chance to put into practice all of our hard work and training. It was a large and complex exercise, which involved searching for a casualty in the water, but had the added pressure of being on the approaches to a busy waterway. The crews all performed really well, locating the casualty and bringing it aboard safely. We’d like to thank St Davids and Angle crews and also Milford Haven Coastguard for coordinating and overseeing the exercise.”

Tamar class lifeboats, introduced into RNLI service in 2005, are among the most advanced in the charity’s fleet, equipped with cutting-edge navigation and communication systems and capable of operating in the worst sea conditions. Seeing three of them in close operation is a rare and impressive sight — one that this weekend served as a powerful reminder of the RNLI’s dedication.

The RNLI and why training is vital

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is a charitable organisation dedicated to saving lives at sea across the United Kingdom and Ireland. Established in 1824, the RNLI operates over 230 lifeboat stations and provides a 24-hour search and rescue service using both all-weather and inshore lifeboats. The charity also delivers beach lifeguard services and works to promote water safety education in communities around the coast.

What makes the RNLI particularly remarkable is that the majority of its lifeboat crew members are volunteers. These individuals come from all walks of life—fishermen, mechanics, teachers, and office workers—who drop everything when their pagers go off, often heading out into the most challenging conditions imaginable. They commit to rigorous training, regular assessments, and ongoing drills to maintain the skills needed to respond quickly, effectively, and safely to emergencies at sea.

Training is not only essential for individual crew members, but it also plays a vital role in ensuring that multiple lifeboats and agencies can operate together smoothly during major incidents. Multi-agency rescues often involve coordination between RNLI lifeboats, HM Coastguard, helicopters, and sometimes other emergency services. These operations can be logistically complex and take place in dangerous, fast-changing environments. Exercises like the one held off Milford Haven allow teams to test communication, refine search strategies, and build the confidence and trust required to perform seamlessly when real lives are at stake.

FIREFIGHTERS from across Mid and West Wales will stage a rally in Carmarthen next week, protesting against proposed changes to their shift patterns that they say will negatively impact their wellbeing and family life.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) is organising the demonstration, which will take place at 9:30am on Monday, March 24, 2025, outside the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service (MAWWFRS) headquarters on Lime Grove Avenue. Around 80 firefighters are expected to attend, including union officials.

At the heart of the dispute is a proposal by the Fire and Rescue Service to change the current 2-2-4 shift system—two day shifts, two night shifts and four rest days, consisting of 9-hour days and 15-hour nights—to a new ’12-12′ model. Under the new arrangement, firefighters would work two 12-hour day shifts and two 12-hour night shifts, followed by four days off. The number of hours worked per week would remain unchanged at 42.

The Service says the proposed changes have been developed from data gathered through its Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) 2040, as well as recommendations from Welsh Government’s Fire and Rescue Service Advisor. It argues that the change will improve productivity, safety, and training opportunities by reallocating non-productive hours from the night shift to daytime.

A spokesperson for MAWWFRS said: “By increasing daytime working hours and reducing those at night, firefighters will have more time for training, community safety work, and maintaining the skills and knowledge necessary for modern fire and rescue duties. The proposed system also aligns with Health and Safety Executive guidance on adequate rest between shifts.”

The Service claims the changes will result in a 13% increase in productive hours during a 48-hour tour and better align with the changing nature of emergency callouts, which tend to be more frequent during daytime hours.

However, the FBU has strongly criticised the plan, arguing that it is being imposed without meaningful consultation and could be harmful to firefighters with caring responsibilities. The union says it will place an unnecessary strain on the mental and physical wellbeing of its members.

A spokesperson for the FBU said: “There is no justification for these changes. Senior managers are refusing to listen to the valid concerns of firefighters, who are already working in a high-pressure environment. This decision will make it even harder for them to balance their personal and professional lives.”

The Fire and Rescue Service said it has been trying to engage with the FBU since summer 2024, with formal discussions beginning in November, but claims no meaningful progress has been made.

“It is disappointing that no agreement has been reached,” a spokesperson added, “but we remain open to further dialogue.”

The Herald understands that the rally will include speeches, interviews, and opportunities for media coverage. The demonstration is expected to draw attention to broader tensions within the fire service over staffing, resourcing and work-life balance.

A response from Welsh Government is awaited.

PEMBROKESHIRE planners are to visit the site of a proposal to move Pembroke Dock’s police station from its “no longer fit for purpose” Water Street location to a former council building.

In an application recommended for approval at the March meeting of Pembrokeshire county Council’s planning committee, Dyfed Powys Police, through agent Asbri Planning Ltd is seeking a change of use of the former Public Information Centre, Argyle Street, Pembroke Dock to a police station.

A supporting statement says the former council public information centre has been deemed surplus to requirements due to changes in working patterns, with Dyfed Powys Police declaring a strong interest in purchasing the property “to enable a more efficient building to house their new model hub for policing” than its current building in nearby Water Street.

It adds: “Should planning be approved, Dyfed Powys Police will progress with the sale of the current police station with the property then being advertised for sale on the open market.”

The statement went on to say: “The proposed re-location of the police operation from Water Street to Argyle Street will require no alterations to the building; it is considered adequate for the intended use with no changes required. The nature of policing also means the transition should be seamless as it is akin to a business use moving back into the property.  The office is served by adequate parking for the intended number of employees without a need for any additional spaces.”

Speaking at the March meeting, agent Barrie Davies told members there would be no custody suite at the proposed new location, the situation at the current Water Street station.

Representing local objectors to the proposed move to Argyle Street, Lucy Cawley said it was “the busiest residential street in Pembroke Dock,” and the nearby Argyle surgery one of “the busiest in Wales,” saying the scheme would have a negative impact for residents, with so many vehicles leaving on a daily basis.

Calling for a site visit before any decision is made, she said the proposal would have “a significant impact on working families and children,” with emergency vehicles potentially leaving at high speed from the busy road.

That was disputed by Mr Davies, who said the application was “broadly a like-for-like relocation,” adding the “potential traffic chaos2 was not happening at the current location.

Local member Cllr Brian Hall asked: “Do we want a police station in Pembroke Dock or do we want it to be like Milford Haven without one?”

Moving approval, he said: “The Water Street station hasn’t had maintenance in many years; the last thing I want to see is to lose the station, we need a police presence there.

“The majority of the town all agree we don’t want to lose the police station. It’s essential we have it in the town; if we do not have the police station the town is going to be worse off.”

Cllr Mark Carter proposed a site visit be undertaken before any decision, saying: “It’s clearly an emotive issue for local residents.”

Cllr Tony Wilcox, a fellow councillor in the town to Cllr Hall, said he agreed with him “100 per cent” of the need to retain a station, but supported a site visit.

Members agreed to a site visit, with just one vote of dissention; the application return to a future committee meeting.