Lift Off for Eastbourne Lifeboat sees it fit and ready to save lives.
Eastbourne RNLI’s Tamar Class Lifeboat has been lifted out of the water for routine maintenance at Sovereign Harbour.
Last week (23/04/2021) the volunteer crew took Eastbourne RNLI’s 42 tonne Tamar class All Weather Lifeboat The Diamond Jubilee to the Premier Marina’s boat lifting hoist in Sovereign Harbour where she is based.
The £2.8million lifeboat was lifted out of the water for a six monthly hull inspection and maintenance to ensure she is able to safely carry out her lifesaving duties. This work is carried out by specialist RNLI mechanics.
Eastbourne RNLI Coxswain, Mark Sawyer said:
'This is essential maintenance to ensure our lifeboat is able to safely operate. We work closely with Premier Marinas to minimise the time the lifeboat is ‘off service'. During this short period, the volunteer crews at RNLI Hastings and RNLI Newhaven provided cover for our 24/7 lifesaving service'.
The hoist operator who lifted the lifeboat, David Sawyer is also a member of the volunteer crew and is the son of the coxswain Mark. He joked:
'I’ve lifted out 100’s of boats but is always nerve wracking lifting the RNLI lifeboat with my dad watching'!
The maintenance was carried out and The Diamond Jubilee was again back on service at 3.54pm
Notes to Editor:
There are currently 27 Tamar Class lifeboats in service with the RNLI.
They were manufactured between 2006 and 2013.
They have a top speed of 25knots and a range of 250 nautical miles and carry a volunteer crew of 7.
The Diamond Jubilee was build in 2012 and has been at Eastbourne since then.
The Diamond Jubilee lead the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant up the River Thames for Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee Celebrations.
Media contacts:
Craig Robinson, Eastbourne RNLI Deputy Lifeboat Press Officer (07956) 638924 [email protected]
Daniel Baldock, Eastbourne RNLI Lifeboat Press Officer (07895) 369688 [email protected] [email protected]
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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