On Tuesday 4 February, following 11 months with the training B class lifeboat, Howard Bell, Aldeburgh RNLI's new Atlantic 85 was delivered to the lifeboat station.
Boat familiarisation will begin immediately with the first launch planned for Thursday 6 February at approximately 6.30pm.
Four helms have qualified in the past 11 months and many of the boat crew are qualified to Tier One level for the Atlantic 85, following intensive training since March 2024.
Training continues to ensure all volunteer crew are available for operational requirements, answering the call 24/7, 365 days a year.
Notes to Editors
Aldeburgh lifeboat station has been operating since 1826 and has been part of the RNLI since 1852. Since formation, their lifeboats have launched 1,267 times and saved 693 lives.
Aldeburgh lifeboat station has two boats on service: B-class Atlantic 85 and D class inshore lifeboat,
Susan Scott.
The current generation of B class, called the Atlantic 85, was introduced in 2005 and is one of the fastest craft in the RNLI fleet.
Although designed to operate in shallower water, the Atlantic 85 can also handle fairly challenging open sea conditions. In the event of a capsize, it can be manually righted by an inflatable bag and the crew can quickly restart its inversion-proofed engines.
Length: 8.44m
Speed: 35 knots (approx 40 miles per hour)
Endurance: 3 hours max, until refuelling is necessary
Crew: 3–4
Weight: 1.8 tonnes
Engine: 2 x 115hp
RNLI Media contacts
For more information, please contact Jo Litt, RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer: [email protected] or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789 or at [email protected]
RNLI/Chris Halder
Aldeburgh RNLI Atlantic 85 lifeboat in the boathouse
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.
