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Looe RNLI to officially name its new D Class inshore lifeboat

Lifeboats News Release

Looe RNLI’s new D Class inshore lifeboat will be officially named Ollie Naismith II on Sunday 18 June 2023. The naming ceremony and service of dedication will take place at 3pm outside Looe RNLI Lifeboat Station on the seafront, East Looe

D-872 Ollie Naismith II

RNLI/Ian Foster

D-872 Ollie Naismith II

Event: The official naming ceremony for Looe RNLI’s new D Class inshore lifeboat.

When: Sunday 18 June at 3pm.

Where: Looe Lifeboat Station

Opportunity: To film and photograph the naming of the charity’s new D Class inshore lifeboat,Ollie Naismith II

Contact: If you wish to attend, please contact Emma Haines [email protected] / 07786 668847

In March 2021, the Looe Lifeboat Appeal was launched to raise funds for a new D Class inshore lifeboat Ollie Naismith II. The charity’s current D Class Ollie Naismith has reached the end of its operational life so this replacement will continue Ollie’s lifesaving legacy for the next decade or more. Looking to raise £78,000 for the new inshore lifeboat, the appeal closed in March 2022, after raising a magnificent £111,000. The money raised over the £78,000 target will be ringfenced to Looe RNLI Lifeboat Station and used to fund the ongoing operational costs of the Ollie Naismith II.

Ollie Naismith II was built in the Autumn of 2022 at the RNLI’s inshore lifeboat centre in Cowes on the Isle of Wight. After arriving in Looe for sea trails, the new lifeboat was placed on service at 12 noon, 19 November 2022.

Looe RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, Dave Haines, said: ‘Looe RNLI is delighted with the arrival of the Ollie Naismith II. The D Class is an incredibally versatile lifeboat, capable of speeds up to 25 knots. The D Class has the ability to deal with strong surf conditions, giving our crews the confidence to undertake rescues close to shore, amongst the rocks and gullies, as well as responding to incidents along the navigable parts of the East and West Looe rivers above the bridge.

‘We are extremely grateful to the community of Looe and supporters from further afield who undertook all manner of fundraising activities or made donations to the appeal. During her service to Looe the Ollie Naismith has launched on service 236 times, assisting 168 persons and saving 8 lives. The arrival of Ollie Naismith II continues this life saving legacy into the next decade, already launching on service 3 times, assisting 5 persons and one dog, since arriving in Looe.

Ollie’s father, John Naismith, will hand the boat into the care of the RNLI, and Ollie’s mother Maxine Naismith will carry out the official naming.

The event is by invitation only, but members of the public will be able to watch from a distance, along the quaysides either side of the lifeboat slipway or from Pennyland, West Looe

Notes to editors

If local media do wish to attend the naming ceremony please ensure that you confirm with Emma in advance using the contact details at the beginning of this media invite.

Photo:

· D-872 Ollie Naismith II
Photo credit
RNLI / Ian Foster

Information

· Re-established as an inshore lifeboat station in 1992, Looe RNLI operate two inshore lifeboats
An Atlantic 85 Sheila and Dennis Tongue II and a D Class Ollie Naismith II

· With over 50 years of service, D class lifeboats have helped to save thousands of lives at sea and continues to be the workhorse of the RNLI fleet today

    • With a top speed of 25 knots, the D class lifeboat can endure 3 hours at sea at this speed on search and rescue missions – a crucial factor when lives at risk.
    • The D Class can access areas inaccessible to the charity’s all-weather lifeboats, such as close to cliffs, rocks and inside caves. As an inflatable inshore lifeboat, the D class is designed to operate close to shore in shallower water.
    • Th D Class is ideal for rescues in fair to moderate conditions and particularly in big surf.
    • Most D class lifeboats are launched from a trolley, with the help of a launch and recovery vehicle such as a tractor. They can also be lowered into the sea using a davit system (a shore-mounted crane)
    • With no wheelhouse on the D class lifeboat, the crew are always exposed to the elements and rely on their protective kit to keep them safe and warm.
    • Many rescues take place at night and can involve being close to dangerous cliffs and manmade structures or searching caves and crevices.
    • In addition to night vision equipment, the D class lifeboat carries a searchlight and parachute illuminating flares to light up the surrounding area, helping to keep crew members safe as well as locate those in need of help.
    • Medical equipment is stowed in the bow pod and includes oxygen and full resuscitation kit, responder bag and multi-purpose ambulance pouch.
    • In the event of a capsize, the D class lifeboat can be righted manually by the crew and her 50hp outboard engine restarted

· Looe RNLI Facebook page www.facebook.com/LooeRNLI

RNLI media contacts

Emma Haines, RNLI Regional Media Officer, on 07786 668847 or [email protected]

Alternatively you can contact the RNLI Duty Press Officer on 01202 336789

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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter 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.

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