Works commenced in September of last year with an initial completion scheduled for the end of July, however the present epidemic delayed progress on site, but work is now nearing completion.
Wynne Construction of Bodelwyddan has completed work on the structure, which has been designed to be as sustainable and maintenance-free as possible. The family-firm also completed the RNLI Llandudno Lifeboat Station in 2017.
Once completed the handover procedure will commence which will involve a series of inductions for the crew and officials before formally handing over the keys for the building.
The building will offer all of the essential crew facilities which are lacking in the present building, which will be required to support the crew and the new lifeboat. To name a few, the new RNLI boathouse will accommodate and impressive training room for its dedicated volunteer crew members, visitor engagement area and generous sized boat halls for both the D Class and the newly and eagerly anticipated Shannon Class Lifeboat. Due to the recent pandemic, this has also been delayed and is now scheduled to be on station and housed at Pwllheli from March 2021.
The building incorporates significant new services with features such as ground source heating , solar panel electrical generation and pumped washdown facilities which require familiarisation and the inductions are an integral pat of the formal process adopted by the RNLI to ensure that the users are fully acquainted with the systems and working of the building.
The present proposals will mean that the existing Mersey class lifeboat will remain at the current lifeboat station, and following handing over the crew will begin preparations for the transfer which will begin once launch and recovery trials and training are commenced early in 2021 followed by the arrival of the new lifeboat towards March / April of next year.
Clive Moore, Coxswain at Pwllheli and Architect of the new Boathouse said:
‘Final stages of work are now being carried out, involving the external works, fitting out and commissioning of the various services and systems within the building. I’ve been fortunate enough to work on many boathouse projects for the RNLI over the years which I can honestly say, have all been a pleasure to work on but the excitement for our station to be completed is even greater.’
RNLI media contacts
For more information please contact: Tomos Moore, Lifeboat Press Officer, 07552446447 or [email protected]. Alternatively contact Eleri Roberts, Regional Media Officer,
07771 941390 or [email protected]
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.
