Exciting new chapter announced for Rhyl RNLI
Rhyl RNLI volunteers are proud to announce that the station have been allocated a new Shannon class lifeboat to continue their lifesaving service off the North Wales coast for years to come.
The exciting news was delivered in person to the volunteers by Leesa Harwood, the charity’s Community Lifesaving and Fundraising Director and David Squires, Deputy Chairman Trustee of the RNLI’s Operations Committee. The state of the art Shannon class lifeboat will be built in-house at the RNLI’s All-weather Lifeboat Centre in Poole, Dorset. A date for the Shannon’s arrival at Rhyl is yet to be announced.
Rhyl RNLI Coxswain, Martin Jones said:
‘This is best news we as a station could hope for - to be allocated the new Shannon class lifeboat, it’s like Christmas has come early for Rhyl RNLI. This will be an exciting new chapter in the station’s 170 year history. As a crew, we would like to thank the charity for their faith in the station as we look into the future.’
The £2.2M Shannon class lifeboat, which was designed to replace the Mersey and Tyne class lifeboats, is the first modern all-weather lifeboat to be propelled by waterjets instead of traditional propellers, making her the most agile and manoeuvrable all-weather lifeboat yet. Reaching top speeds of 25 knots, the Shannon is nearly 50% faster than the Mersey, giving crews the ability to reach and assist casualties faster when time is of the essence.
After faithfully serving Rhyl RNLI for over 24 years the station’s Mersey class lifeboat Lil Cunningham is edging towards the end of her operational life.
Notes to editor
Attached is a photo of a Shannon class all-weather lifeboat. Credit: Nathan Williams
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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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