ENERGY company Valero has once again supported Angle and Tenby RNLI lifeboat stations by donating vital lifesaving fuel to help the crews save lives at sea.

Valero Pembroke Refinery has been supporting the two all-weather lifeboat stations since 2005; donating enough fuel annually for a Tamar class lifeboat to travel all around the UK - with still some fuel to spare.

10,000 litres of fuel is donated annually by Valero to both Angle RNLI and Tenby RNLI. The total amount of donated fuel, 20,000 litres, would be enough for one Tamar class all-weather lifeboat to travel from either Angle or Tenby, all around the UK (anti-clockwise) back round to Pembrokeshire and continue down into Cornwall – all whilst travelling at the Tamar’s full-speed capacity of 25 knots.

Last year both Angle and Tenby lifeboat crew launched on service a total of 108 times between them. Angle’s all-weather lifeboat launched on service 50 times as well as seven inshore lifeboat rescues; whilst Tenby’s Tamar class lifeboat launched 29 times and the inshore lifeboat responding to 22 services in 2016.

Lewis Creese, coxswain of Angle lifeboat said: “Without fuel the lifeboats wouldn’t be able to launch and we as crew wouldn’t be able to save lives at sea.

“On behalf of the RNLI I would like to thank Valero for their continued support to the local crews at Tenby and Angle. We would also like to thank local company KP Thomas fuel distribution for collecting the fuel and delivering to both Angle and Tenby without charge.”

Stephen Thornton, refinery public affairs manager, said: “Pembroke Refinery is located on the Milford Haven Waterway, and living and working on the coast as we do Valero understands the critical importance of staying safe on the open water. The refinery’s annual fuel donation is one small, practical way we can show our support for the RNLI and their volunteers who do such an incredible job in saving lives at sea.”