Exciting news for Wick RNLI lifeboat station

Our current all-weather lifeboat the Roy Barker II is much loved and has serviced the station well over the last 28 years. As the lifeboat gets close to the end of its operational life we are excited to be receiving a new state of the art lifeboat which includes the very latest in lifesaving technology.

Updates on the new vessel including the name, number etc will follow in the coming months.

Allan Lipp, Wick Lifeboat Coxswain, said: `It is incredibly exciting looking towards the future lifeboat provision for Wick which provides a huge investment by the RNLI to the station. It is also an opportunity to reflect upon the current Trent Class Lifeboat – the Roy Barker II which has looked after the crew well and has been involved in many rescues over the years. It will be a sad day when it comes time to say goodbye.'

Information on the Shannon class all weather lifeboat:

*The Shannon is the latest class of all-weather lifeboat to join the RNLI fleet. Designed entirely in house by a team of RNLI engineers and built at the RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat centre in Poole, Dorset, the charity harnessed cutting-edge technology to ensure this new lifeboat meets the demands of a 21st century rescue service. The Shannon is propelled by water jets rather than traditional propellers, making it extremely manoeuvrable and agile with an ability to operate extremely well in both deep and shallow water.

*It also has other features which makes it an ideal lifeboat for the types of incidents the crew respond to, including operating a system which allows each crew member access to navigational and systems information from any position within the wheelhouse, making it the most versatile vessel in the RNLI’s fleet.

The change is part of a wider lifeboat fleet strategy that will be rolled out in 2026/2027 with 22 lifeboat stations out of the 238 which operate around the UK and Ireland impacted, primarily with changes from one class of all-weather lifeboat to another.

The RNLI’s lifeboat station in Wick is actively looking for volunteers to join the existing team in the role of all-weather lifeboat crew.

Applicants can get more information here: https://volunteering.rnli.org/vacancy/alb-crew-wick-595384.html

We’re grateful for your ongoing support during this time. You can read more about the RNLIs fleet strategy and other changes in the region here: https://rnli.org/support-us/volunteer/volunteer-zone/volunteer-news/2025/october/2040-lifeboat-fleet-strategy

RNLI media contacts

John Taylor, Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for Wick RNLI, 07780 926268, [email protected]

Richard Smith, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]

Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]

RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789, [email protected]

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.

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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.