RNLI Penlee will take delivery of their new Atlantic 85 class lifeboat this week

The Mollie and Ivor Dent was built at the Inshore Lifeboat Centre, East Cowes, Isle of Wight, at a cost of £215,000. Her build costs were funded after a generous legacy from the late Mollie Dent, a lifetime supporter of the RNLI from Newbury, Berkshire.

She will replace the Atlantic 75 Inshore Lifeboat, Paul Alexander, which arrived on station in 2003 – 367 services later with 20 lives saved its time for her to move on to pastures new.

Intensive local training will commence immediately, ensuring that all volunteer crewmen at Penlee are familiarised with the new Inshore lifeboat.

The Atlantic 85 class lifeboat carries four crew members, is powered by two 115hp engines and has a stronger hull and greater top speed. On board is a full suite of communication and electronic navigation aids, and the added radar allows the crew to operate more effectively in poor visibility.

The RNLI constructs up to 60% of the lifeboats it needs in its own purpose-built facility at the Inshore Lifeboat Centre in East Cowes. Fifty lifeboats are now constructed at the centre each year, while up to 200 are serviced and refurbished.

RNLI Coxswain at Penlee, Patch Harvey, says: ‘We are all thrilled to be welcoming the Mollie and Ivor Dent Inshore lifeboat to our station in Newlyn. The Paul Alexander has been an amazing workhorse and we will never forget the generosity of Paul’s family, but progress means that we must move on. The crew are looking forward to their training and to putting the Mollie and Ivor Dent through her paces in Mount’s Bay over the coming weeks.'

All three lifeboats will be attending Porthleven Lifeboat Day on Sunday 14 August. The all weather lifeboat will take part in a rescue display with the Coastguard helicopter at 12pm.

Note to Editors
Please contact Penlee Lifeboat Station after 12.00 midday on Wednesday, August 10, for estimated time of arrival – 01736 369246. Updates will also be posted on our Social Media channels.

RNLI media contacts
For more information please telephone Elaine Trethowan, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 0770 466 9406 or [email protected] or Emma Haines, Public Relations Manager for the South on 0778 666 8847 or [email protected] or contact RNLI Public Relations on 01202 336789.
 

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The RNLI charity 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 146,000 lives.

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