New £2.78M Portree RNLI lifeboat officially enters service
A brand new £2.78M Shannon class RNLI lifeboat has officially entered service at its new home on the Isle of Skye.
Named RNLB Peter and Mary (13-59), she is the first new permanent lifeboat for the Portree RNLI station in thirty years and replaces the veteran Trent class Stanley Watson Barker (14-16).
The state-of-the-art vessel, which is powered by water jets rather than conventional propellors, officially took over the call-sign of Portree Lifeboat at 1.59pm (to match the hull numbers of 13-59) on Monday 1 June 2026.
The outgoing lifeboat – Stanley Watson Barker (14-16) – first arrived at the station in June 1996, taking over from a Waveney-class lifeboat, Ralph and Joy Swann, which had been based at Portree since 1991.
Douglas MacDougall, Portree RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, said:
‘Lifeboat 13-59 arrived in Portree to a fantastic welcome on Saturday 18 April and training started in earnest the following Monday.
‘In six very busy weeks, the crew familiarised themselves with the new asset and prepared for in depth assessments in order to pass-out on the Shannon class lifeboat. Their commitment has paid off and I'm delighted that the RNLI Fleet team have signed off and approved the change of call-sign from 'Lifeboat 13-59' to 'Portree Lifeboat' as of 1.59pm on 1 June. A new era begins.’
Stuart Nicolson, Portree RNLI full-time Coxswain, said:
‘I wish to express my thanks to the volunteers at Portree RNLI for their commitment and hard work that has gone into training for the new vessel to officially become the Portree Lifeboat. I would also like to extend our gratitude to the RNLI Fleet Staff and trainers for all their help over several months with preparing Portree RNLI for this new chapter.
‘We were all blown away by the size of the crowd that had gathered on Portree pier to welcome in the new lifeboat when she arrived on Saturday 18 April and we continue to be extremely grateful to our local community for their support and donations towards our lifesaving work.
‘After thirty years of service, we will all miss Stanley Watson Barker, which has been involved in countless rescue operations over these years. She will always be special to the crew of Portree RNLI.’
The Shannon class is the smallest and lightest form of All Weather lifeboat in the RNLI fleet, being designed and built entirely in-house by the charity. With a top speed of 25 knots – matching the speed of outgoing Portree 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.
ENDS
Notes to editors
· All photos in this press release should be credited to RNLI/Robert MacInnes.
· The two crew members pictured are Portree RNLI Coxswain, Stuart Nicolson, and Mechanic, Ellie MacPherson.
· The future of the outgoing Trent class lifeboat Stanley Watson Barker has yet to be decided by the RNLI.
· 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]
RNLI Media Contacts
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]
Key facts about the RNLI
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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