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Former International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) Chairman Michael Vlasto
By Madushka Balasuriya
“Sometimes people are nervous when you talk about volunteers and volunteering. But volunteers can do things every bit as well as professionals. Give them good training, give them good equipment and they’ll go out and do a first class job.” Those are the proud claims of former International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) Chairman Michael Vlasto.
Sitting across from me in the relaxed surroundings of the Colombo Courtyard Hotel, he is hours away from addressing an audience, inclusive of government ministers and officials, at the Commissioning Ceremony for the Tyne Class lifeboat Puffin XII by the Sri Lanka Lifeboat Institution (SLLI) – something he has played a pivotal role in making a reality. The development is seen as a major step towards introducing a voluntary maritime lifeboat service in Sri Lanka, a goal close to Vlasto’s heart.
His enthusiasm for volunteerism began during his 38 years of service with the UK and Ireland’s Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), where he made a major contribution towards the transformation of the charity into a world class search and rescue organisation. When he joined the charity after service in the Merchant Navy as a deck officer, it was a well-respected traditional lifeboat service, when he left 38 years later after a 17-year stint as Operations Director, it had developed into something more.
“We had expanded into lifeguarding, flood rescue, hovercraft operations and set up a special service on the River Thames because a lot of people were also at risk on rivers and inland waters.
“It was very satisfying to be deeply involved in opening the service up in quite a big way, and not just focusing on sea rescue but the whole range of rescue opportunities linked to water.”
And with nearly all of the 5000-strong lifeboat crew working of their own volition, volunteers played a big part in helping grasp those opportunities.
“When I joined the RNLI, 50% of the crews came from a maritime background. When I left it had reduced to 9%, mainly due to the reduction in the size of the Merchant Navy and the military, the reduction in the size of the fishing fleets and a general lack of people with maritime experience which meant you had to look elsewhere for potential crew members.
“Traditionally we had quite a lot of local self employed people who made themselves available and this was then augmented by others from wide ranging backgrounds including doctors, accountants and journalists who were keen to give their support. The right training and some good equipment allowed them all to gain experience afloat, resulting in them doing some first class rescue work.”
It is in this context that, in 2001, SLLI Chairman of Governors Ranjith Gunawardena, who Vlasto lauds as “the man with the original vision regarding the formation of the SLLI,” voiced his concerns regarding the state of Sri Lanka’s lifesaving facilities. At the time, Sri Lanka’s fishing industry was developing rapidly and their boats were going further offshore, and this meant an increase in the demand for rescue operations. However with the Sri Lankan Coastguard and Navy’s maritime search and rescue operations stretched, help was going to be needed. So, the idea of introducing a voluntary maritime lifesaving service was borne. As Vlasto put it: “You can’t have too many rescue facilities.”
The 15 years following the initial conversations saw the SLLI try in vain to convince the relevant authorities to follow through on plans to allow for a voluntary maritime service in the country.
“Sometimes governments get a bit nervous about voluntary organisations and charities who can be seen as ‘do-gooders’. You find this around the world but it’s a big misapprehension in my view,” explained Vlasto.
The idea however still grew and the SLLI eventually contacted the RNLI, when Vlasto was still Operations Director, to see if they could make a lifeboat, that was coming out of service in the RNLI, available. The RNLI agreed to provide one of their older boats – the 14.3m, 18 knot, self-righting Tyne class lifeboat known to the RNLI as ‘Robert and Violet’ – from the UK to Sri Lanka. This was achieved through generous funding provided by the Master Divers Organisation, whose owner Ariyaseela Wickramanayaka is a long serving supporter and governor of the SLLI.
But this victory was short-lived, as paying for the transportation of a lifeboat from the UK to Sri Lanka was likely to be very costly. Fortunately last year Vlasto, who had in 2015 retired from his post as IMRF Chairman following eight years of service, approached the Chairman of Chinese Shipping Company COSCO Ma Zehua for assistance, and he kindly agreed to transport the 25 tonne lifeboat to Colombo free of charge. Along with help from Sri Lankan sponsors and the RNLI, the lifeboat eventually arrived in the island nation.
Fast forward to last month, where, to limited fanfare, the lifeboat was commissioned for use by the SLLI. However, Vlasto reveals that the job is only half done as there are several obstacles still to overcome.
“How will a voluntary organisation interface with the state organisations?” he asks pointedly. “It is hoped to establish a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the relevant organisations who have overall responsibility for the initiation and co-ordination of SAR in your waters.”
But he is nevertheless hopeful, now that the boat is actually on the island, that it will prove easier to wade through the red tape and inherent distrust of anything foreign.
“With the SLLI, I hope it will be possible for all concerned to sit down around the table and say ‘look we have this lifeboat, it’s up to this standard and we’re here to help!’ It is an additional facility with considerable potential for the future which will enhance the service already provided. And when people see that it isn’t a threat, that it won’t challenge the system, that it’s an additional pair of hands, I think it’ll settle down.”
Vlasto also believes another crucial aspect that has not happened to date is the granting of government charity status to the SLLI.
“This is essential if you’re trying to attract money from corporates and large international organisations. While it also can provide opportunities for some tax relief; if you’re going to be raising money to save lives, you don’t want to be paying tax on it as well. At the end of the day the SLLI will be providing a service that enhances the existing services at relatively little cost.”
In the meantime, while all the bureaucracy is being sorted out, one can only hope the Sri Lankan Government comes closer to Vlasto’s way of thinking: “It’s a win-win situation for the State; the volunteers are there because they want to be and the service provision is being provided at no cost to the Government.
“I wish the SLLI well in their endeavours. Because in the end, there’s really nothing better than saving somebody’s life. That is a good feeling.”
