New Portree RNLI lifeboat arrives on Skye

Named RNLB Peter and Mary (13-59), this 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 (14-16) later this year.

Peter and Mary set sail from the All Weather Lifeboat Centre in Poole on Tuesday 14 April and called at Falmouth, Arklow (County Wicklow, Republic of Ireland), 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 today (Saturday 18 April) to a large crowd of welcoming spectators.

Stuart Nicolson, Coxswain at Portree RNLI, who was part of the delivery voyage crew, said:

‘Firstly, I’d like to say a huge thank you to our volunteer crew who have been putting in many hours of intensive training – both at the All Weather Lifeboat Centre in Poole and at home in Portree – in preparation for the arrival of our new vessel.

‘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 sea-going qualities, manoeuvrability and efficiency.

‘This is the start of a new chapter for the RNLI in Portree and we are looking forward to continuing to serve our island and neighbouring communities for many years to come.’

Several other vessels, including the outgoing Portree RNLI lifeboat Stanley Watson Barker (14-16), Kyle of Lochalsh RNLI Inshore lifeboat Spirit of Fred. Olsen (B-856), a retired lifeboat now under private ownership from Lochboisdale, and the HM Coastguard Emergency Towing Vessel Ievoli Black, guided the new Shannon class vessel into Portree bay, with the latter firing her water canons in a traditional seafaring salute.

The Shannon class is the smallest and lightest form of All Weather lifeboat, being designed and built entirely in-house by the RNLI. With a top speed of 25 knots – matching the speed of outgoing Portree Trent class lifeboat Stanley Watson Barker - it offers an increased level of manoeuvrability thanks to a water jet propulsion system. It has a uniquely designed hull to improve handling and efficiency when at sea, even in rough weather, including only needing 80% of its engine power to reach top speed. The Shannon class also has self-righting capabilities.

The outgoing lifeboat, Stanley Watson Barker, will remain on active service at Portree for several weeks, to ensure that there is no gap in service during further crew familiarisation training onboard the new vessel before it finally enters active service. The final departure date of the old lifeboat will be announced in due course.

Douglas MacDougall, Lifeboat Operations Manager, said:

‘This is a very special day for the crew and the local community with the arrival of RNLB Peter & Mary. 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

‘The crew will take time to familiarise themselves with the technology and capabilities of the new lifeboat before it is placed on service and ready to react 24/7 to tasking requests from HM Coastguard.

‘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.’

ENDS

Notes to editors

· All photos and videos in this press release should be credited to RNLI/Robert MacInnes.

· Please note that the new vessel RNLB Peter and Mary has not entered official service at this stage. There will be several weeks of further training and trials before the vessel becomes the active lifeboat at Portree. RNLB Stanley Watson Barker will maintain the service as normal until the formal transfer of duty is completed.

· Portree Lifeboat Station was established in 1991. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/portree-lifeboat-station

RNLI media contacts

For further information, please contact:

Robert MacInnes, Lifeboat Press Officer at Portree RNLI: 07950 421829 / [email protected]

Richard Smith, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland: 07826 900639 / [email protected]

Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Scotland: 07920 365929 / [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]

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The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,700 lives.

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