RNLI Clacton celebrates Shannon going live on service
Another first for RNLI Clacton-on-Sea with their new Shannon class ALB (All-weather Lifeboat) officially going ‘On Service’ this Thursday 27 March.
After many months of training, familiarisation and hard work, volunteer crews at RNLI Clacton have reached an incredible landmark, in that the newest lifeboat to arrive in Clacton, 13-52 RNLB ‘Chris and Jo West’ will go onto active service.
Each crew member, whether they are going afloat, driving the Shannon Launch and Recovery System (SLARS) or marshalling to ensure everyone remains safe during launch and recovery operations have completed rigorous training and assessments to make them ready.
RNLI Clacton Press Officer Mark Walsham said, ‘The new state of the art Shannon class ALB lifeboat is a fantastic capability for Clacton and is operated by the dedicated and skilled volunteer crew at Clacton-on-Sea.’
‘With the new Shannon going onto active service this marks the start of ALB based lifesaving in Clacton, but also within the wider Tendring coastline. The Shannon lifeboat with its extended range and ability to cope with more severe weather conditions can and will serve those in need for the future and build upon our proud lifesaving legacy.’
We thank everyone involved, RNLI Fleet team and assessors, everyone at the RNLI Clacton lifeboat station and our generous donors and supporters in getting us to this momentous event.
Notes to the Editor
The Shannon ALB lifeboat will go onto active service Thursday 27 March 2025.
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
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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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