RNLI Clacton to welcome new Shannon lifeboat on Saturday 16 November

Its arrival marks the start of a new chapter in the story of search and rescue on the Tendring coast. The Shannon lifeboat is the latest in a long line of search and rescue boats provided by the RNLI to Clacton over the past 146 years. Established in 1878, Clacton-on-Sea Lifeboat Station currently houses two inshore lifeboats in a modern boathouse built in 2006. The crews have received 24 medals in their long history of lifesaving.

This new ALB (All Weather Lifeboat) marks 40 years since the last ALB lifeboat was operating in the area.

A significant proportion of the funding for the new Shannon Lifeboat has been provided through the very generous legacy donation from Chris & Jo West. During a holiday on a cruise ship, on a day of very rough sea conditions, they observed our volunteers go out multiple times to assist various vessels in distress. So impressed by our crew’s bravery and selflessness they decided then and there to donate to the RNLI.

The arrival marks the continuation of extensive training for our crew over the coming weeks, assisted by the RNLI Fleet team and trainer/assessors. This vital training provided to all our volunteers teaches best practice, safe operations combined with local knowledge. We look forward to strengthening the lifeboat coverage in Clacton and the wider area within Tendring.

Clacton-on-Sea voluntary Lifeboat Operations Manager Lisa Parker said, “The station has been looking forward to this day for a long time. The past few weeks and months have been spent in preparation and training by all the crew, to receive this incredible piece of kit from the RNLI. It is the most technologically advanced lifeboat in the fleet, and it will proudly serve the Tendring coast for many years to come.”

'We are incredibly honoured to receive it, and we are grateful to the legacy donors “Chris and Jo West” and to all those involved at our Station down through the years, who have made this day possible. We hope to bring many loved ones safely home in this new lifeboat.’

Lifeboat Press Officer Mark Walsham said ‘We would love to see as many of our supporters welcome our new Shannon lifeboat to Clacton on Saturday 16 November, starting around 12noon. Our official boat designation of 13-52 which traditionally dictates that we would like to beach the Shannon in Clacton at 1.52pm. With the right weather and tides we hope to be able to demonstrate how we beach and recover the Shannon in real time. Keep checking our social media pages to stay up to date.’

‘With this new and much larger vessel, we need to expand our crew locally. We recruit a wide range of people from many different backgrounds to volunteer for us - we have volunteers who are in education, working, unemployed, retired, and from diverse community backgrounds, so why not look at the link below and help us.'

‘We welcome anyone who is committed to the charity’s purpose of saving lives at sea.’

Learn more about volunteering for our crew by visiting RNLI Volunteering Website

Notes to the Editor

• The Shannon ALB lifeboat is expected to come into service at Clacton-on-Sea in 2024.
• The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea.
• The charity relies on donations.

RNLI media contacts

For more information please contact:

Mark Walsham, RNLI Clacton volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on 07468511158, or [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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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.