BY JACKIE MACKENZIE
A brand new £2.78 million Shannon class RNLI lifeboat arrived at its home station on Skye at the weekend after a five-day delivery voyage from Poole.
Named RNLB Peter and Mary (13-59), it is the first new permanent lifeboat for the Portree RNLI station in 30 years and will take over from the veteran Trent class Stanley Watson Barker later this year.
The new craft set sail from the lifeboat centre in Poole on Tuesday 14th April and called at Falmouth, Arklow in County Wicklow, Campbeltown and Oban for overnight berthing during the passage.
The state of the art vessel, which is powered by water jets rather than conventional propellors, arrived at Portree at 1.59pm – to match the hull numbers of 13-59 – on Saturday, to a large crowd of welcoming spectators.
She was guided into Portree Bay by several other lifeboat and coastguard vessels, firing water canons in a traditional seafaring salute.
Stuart Nicolson, coxswain at Portree RNLI and one of the delivery voyage crew, said: “We are all excited to welcome this new Shannon class lifeboat into Portree Bay. The crew who have been training onboard her have already commented on her excellent seagoing qualities, manoeuvrability and efficiency.”
With a top speed of 25 knots, matching the speed of the outgoing boat, the new craft has a uniquely designed hull to improve handling and efficiency when at sea, even in rough weather, including only needing 80 per cent of its engine power to reach top speed. She also has self-righting capabilities.
The outgoing lifeboat will remain on active service at Portree for several weeks to ensure there is no gap in service during further crew familiarisation training onboard the new vessel before it finally enters active service.
Douglas MacDougall, lifeboat operations manager, said: “This is a very special day for the crew and the local community. We now start a new chapter in the short history of the station with the reassurance that a new, state of the art, lifesaving asset is on our coastline for many years to come.
“All connected with Portree RNLI Lifeboat Station remain humbled by the fantastic backing from our supporters and the wider seafaring community. I would also like to share a note of thanks to the crew and their families for their ongoing commitment and support.
“In time we will say a sad farewell to RNLB Stanley Watson Barker which has served us well over the last 30 years.”
