The offshore survey company Green Rebel, founded by Irish tech and telecoms entrepreneur Pearse Flynn, has announced a €15,000 funding boost for lifeboat stations around the country.
The RNLI will use the money from the Cork-based company to support the running and maintenance of lifeboat stations in Arklow, Ballycotton, Crosshaven, Dún Laoghaire, Howth and Galway — areas where Green Rebel has been operating in recent years.
Last year, lifeboat crews from the six stations earmarked for the Green Rebel funding launched their lifeboats 193 times, bringing 262 people to safety.
The callouts came at all hours of the day and night, with volunteers dropping everything to go to the assistance of those in trouble on the water.
Green Rebel fleet manager Alan Cott, a member of the volunteer crew with Ballycotton RNLI in East Cork, is among those brave crew members who have responded when the pagers went off.
“The sea is the background to my life,” he said.
“I lost a brother to drowning some years ago while he was out fishing.
“As well as working with Green Rebel, I am a passionate volunteer for my local lifeboat in Ballycotton.
“Being part of the RNLI makes me feel I am giving something back while also hopefully preventing some families from going through what we did.
“I am delighted that Green Rebel are supporting a charity so close to my heart as I know first hand that those funds will be helping the RNLI to save lives at sea.”
Green Rebel chief executive Kieran Ivers said because they work offshore, they know things can go wrong quickly and without warning, and organisations like the RNLI are essential for safety at sea.
“At Green Rebel, we are committed to maritime safety and regularly conduct training manoeuvres with the RNLI and the Irish Coast Guard,” he said.
“We have several team members who are volunteer crew members with their local RNLI and we are very proud of the commitment they and their fellow volunteers make by responding to emergencies at sea no matter the hour or the weather conditions.
“Supporting the RNLI is a way for us to ‘pay it forward’ and support the coastal communities and areas in which we operate.”
