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Seahouses RNLI begin training for new lifeboat

Lifeboats News Release

Monday 2 March 2020 saw Seahouses Lifeboat Station begin final training for the arrival of their new Shannon class lifeboat in May this year.

Seahouses Lifeboat "John and Elizabeth Allan" on sea trials at Poole

RNLI/Seahouses

New Seahouses Lifeboat on trials
Intensive training for the shore crew, who will launch and recover the new lifeboat, began today. A training tractor and carriage was delivered to the station last week, and training to operate the new rig now begins in earnest.

The new vehicle has already attracted a lot of public attention due to its rather striking appearance, while parked at the front of the boathouse.

Lifeboat Operations Manager Ian Clayton said: 'This will be a busy time for both shore and boat crews, with RNLI trainers on station. It is essential that the crew are trained to a high level, to ensure safe operation of this complex equipment. These are exciting times, as we look forward to the arrival of our new lifeboat and the start of a new chapter of lifesaving at Seahouses.'

The new lifeboat costing £2.2M, has been funded by the immense generosity of a donor in Scotland, and has already been launched and fully trialled at the RNLI All-Weather Lifeboat Centre at Poole where she was built. The lifeboat will be called John and Elizabeth Allan, after the donor’s parents.

RNLI Photo captions
The photographs show the new lifeboat being launched at Poole, and undergoing sea trials which were a complete success, as well as the new SLARS (Shannon Launch and Recovery System) at Seahouses lifeboat station.

RNLI Media contacts
For more information please contact Ian Clayton, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on: 07981 069177 or, email: [email protected]
SLARS Launch and Recovery Rig at Seahouses

RNLI/Ian Clayton

SLARS unit at Seahouses
SLARS Tractor under scrutiny from Station Mechanics

RNLI/Ian Clayton

SLARS Tractor under scrutiny from Station Mechanics
The SLARS Rig

RNLI/Ian Clayton

The SLARS Rig
RNLB John and Elizabeth Allan being launched at Poole

RNLI/Ian Clayton

RNLB John and Elizabeth Allan being launched at Poole

Key facts about the RNLI

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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For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.