Two volunteer crew members at Llandudno RNLI have achieved important operational milestones after successfully completing specialist assessments that will strengthen the station's lifesaving capability.

Calum Darling has qualified as an Inshore Lifeboat (ILB) Navigator, while Vicki Tann has passed her ILB Tier 2 assessment following a day of operational evaluations on Monday, 27 July.

The assessments were conducted by Coastal Lifeboat Trainer Simon Bunting.

As an ILB Navigator, Calum will play a crucial role during rescue operations, supporting the helm by providing accurate navigational information, maintaining situational awareness, identifying hazards, planning safe routes and helping coordinate search and rescue missions.

To gain the qualification, he successfully completed both theory and practical assessments covering navigation policy and procedures, collision regulations, local knowledge, route planning, search and rescue navigation, electronic navigation systems, search planning and casualty location techniques.

Throughout the assessment, Calum demonstrated sound decision-making, interpreted tidal and environmental conditions, safely planned and executed routes, and confidently supported the helm during realistic operational scenarios.

Meanwhile, Vicki's Tier 2 assessment tested the wide range of practical skills required to take on greater responsibility as an inshore lifeboat crew member.

The assessment included watchkeeping, anchoring, veering, towing, seamanship and command of the helm during a series of practical rescue exercises, including a man overboard scenario.

Building on the foundations of Tier 1 training, the qualification demonstrates a high level of competence, confidence and operational readiness for responding to incidents at sea.

Both the navigator and Tier 2 crew roles are regarded as essential operational positions within the RNLI, ensuring lifeboat crews can operate safely, efficiently and effectively during emergency call-outs.

Llandudno RNLI congratulated both volunteers on their achievements and thanked Simon Bunting for carrying out the assessments.

The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea, with volunteer crews providing a 24-hour search and rescue service around the coast of the United Kingdom and Ireland. At Llandudno, volunteers regularly respond to emergencies involving swimmers, paddleboarders, kayakers, sailors and people cut off by the tide, as well as assisting HM Coastguard and other emergency services during incidents along the North Wales coastline.

The latest qualifications ensure the station continues to build and maintain the highly trained volunteer crews needed to respond safely and effectively whenever the pager sounds.