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RNLI Skegness welcomes relief lifeboats, ensuring uninterrupted lifesaving

Lifeboats News Release

Skegness RNLI Lifeboat Station is pleased to announce that two relief lifeboats from the RNLI fleet have temporarily joined the station while it's regular lifeboats undergo routine maintenance and servicing.

Ben Horley

Storm Rider at St Ives Lifeboat Station

The all-weather Shannon class lifeboat Storm Rider (13-04) has stepped in for Joel and April Grunnill (13-17), while the D class inshore lifeboat Barbara Anne Bennett (D-826) is covering for The Holland Family (D-842). Both of Skegness' lifeboats are currently located on the Isle of White for their regular check-ups.

Storm Rider has been part of the relief fleet for over nine years since it joined in 2014. Likewise, the Barbara Anne Bennett has been providing crucial backup for over five years since 2018.

RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, Paul Simpson, says: 'The resilience of our relief fleet is paramount to the safety of our waters. When our local lifeboats require servicing or repairs, we can always count on the RNLI relief fleet to step in. This ensures that, regardless of circumstances, our patch will always have the appropriate level of lifeboat cover. It's reassuring to know that no matter what happens, our lifeboats are still available and lives can still be saved.'

The relief fleet is strategically located around the UK and Ireland, ready to provide cover at any of the 238 lifeboat stations. Their state of readiness ensures that even when regular lifeboats are away for maintenance, there's no gap in the lifesaving service provided by the RNLI.

Notes to editors

  • The RNLI is the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.
  • Skegness RNLI is based on Tower Esplanade, Skegness. The lifeboat station was founded in 1825 and the volunteer crew use an inshore D class lifeboat The Holland Family and as well as an all-weather Shannon class lifeboat the Joel and April Grunnill.
  • Currently both lifeboats are relief lifeboats as the Skegness lifeboats are in for repair or regular servicing. The all-weather Shannon class lifeboat Storm Rider (13-04) has stepped in for Joel and April Grunnill (13-17), while the D class inshore lifeboat Barbara Anne Bennett (D-826) is covering for The Holland Family (D-842).

RNLI media contacts

For further information, please contact:
Brad Johnson, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for Skegness at: [email protected]
RNLI Press Office: 01202 336789 or [email protected]

RNLI/Raff Jurek

Barbara Anne Bennett (D-826) training on Skegness Beach

Darren Green, Tales of the Riverbank

Storm Rider and Joel and April Grunnill

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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