RNLI and JLA: Spot the Difference

Here is a photo of the recently retired, ex-Bembridge based, Max Aitken III at Poole 11/02/09

And here is the same boat last week in Jersey harbour.

The RNLI has commented that:

‘We are aware that there are issues with people potentially being misled because of similarities of logos and branding. We are currently collecting and considering evidence before making a final decision with regard to our legal options.’

The revamped Max Aitken has a few white stripes along the side, and a few smallish JLA logos, but apart from that it looks much the same. It is hardly a major change of livery and I can see how people could easily be confused.

There is a covenant on use of the boat as a lifeboat, but earlier this year, the RNLI said it was likely to waive the covenant so long as the JLA repainted their boat to avoid any visual confusion. I'm not sure that a few stripes and small logos really counts as avoiding any visual confusion.

And there is more confusion because the JLA boat has "Jersey Lifeboat" painted on the back. At the moment that is very misleading, not least because it is just a boat in the water, and not a lifeboat. Before it is operational as a lifeboat, it must be insured as a lifeboat, and it must be accredited as a lifeboat by the Jersey Coastguard as an operational resource. And that's not going to happen in 2018.

I think one of the key issues will be the cursory way in which they have tried to "rebrand" the JLA boat with logo an a few stripes. To the man on the Clapham omnibus that is not changing the look of the lifeboat! It seems a very cheapskate attempt to comply. I notice the JLA logo has a particular shade of red and white. I'd expect the boat to be repainted in the same livery.

So why the sudden urge to garner publicity by going to sea? I suppose it is to boost fundraising, but another factor could be the press release by the RNLI released recently:

St Helier lifeboat has launched 42 times in 2018 - 12 x inshore lifeboat, 30  x all-weather lifeboat (statement as at 31st August). St Catherine lifeboat has launched 20 times in 2018 (statement as at 31st  August). A joint management group (including long-serving volunteers from St Helier and St Catherine lifeboat stations) has been established.

There will be joint training exercises with the two lifeboat stations and the lifeguards as well as other search and rescue services throughout the summer. The current RNLI volunteer Jersey crew is made up of new and existing volunteers as well as some who have returned to the RNLI from the former St Helier crew. 92 people came to the volunteering open day at St Helier lifeboat station at the end of 2017; 40 of those applied to join the RNLI.

It appears the RNLI are now fully operational with an all weather Tamar class boat back in action, and a local crew, and nothing seems to have been progressing much with the JLA apart from a few fundraising events. Clearly putting the boat in the water is a good way to rally the faithful.

Fund Raising

In my last blog on the subject

http://tonymusings.blogspot.com/2018/06/the-little-figures-that-arent-there.html

I said:

I would like to see a fund raising “thermometer” on the JLA website so everyone can see how much has been raised, and how much is still needed.

I have no problem with the JLA having an independent boat, but I would like some better transparency with regard to their finance costs. At the moment, there are too many figures that are missing. There's a lot of good people fundraising for them. Let's have their contribution appreciated.

John Baker, Fundraising Manager, The Jersey Lifeboat Association, told me:

"We have plans to put a fundraising thermometer on the web page and also some exciting plans to extend our membership program."

That was back in June 2018, three months ago. I'm still waiting for that thermometer to appear on their website. I am really rather disappointed.

At the St Brelade Parish Rates Assembly this year Mr Richard Haycock made a plea for the Jersey Lifeboat Association and suggested splitting the RNLI grant between the two associations. He was advised that the association must submit a copy of its accounts before a grant could be considered. That's true of all organisations receiving a grant from the Parish. 

But it does raise a question: when the JLA has been operational for a year - next February or March - will there be published accounts available in the public domain?