Arklow Shannon Lifeboat Appeal

Arklow RNLI volunteers have been saving lives at sea for an incredible 198 years – making the station the oldest in Ireland. Since 1997, the crew have been launching to the rescue in their all-weather Trent class lifeboat Ger Tigchelaar. While it has proudly served the station for almost 30 years, Arklow lifeboat crew are ready to start a new chapter of lifesaving. To help them reach people in trouble faster, and keep them and those they rescue safer, the volunteers need a new, modern all-weather lifeboat.

Arklow's town motto is: 'Our hope lies in the riches of the sea.' With this comes a near 200-year history of brave lifeboat crews who have never given up hope. And that’s all down to unwavering support from kind people like you. So, by helping to raise €200,000 towards a new Shannon class lifeboat, you’ll help to give Arklow volunteers the hope they need to bring people home safe for the next 200 years and counting.

The Shannon class is the newest lifeboat in the RNLI’s all-weather fleet, with cutting-edge technology that has already brought over 30 lifeboat stations across Ireland and the UK into a new era of lifesaving. And now, Arklow volunteers need your help to do the same.

‘Our lifeboat crew launch in all conditions at any time of day or night to bring loved ones home. A Shannon will give them the very best lifeboat technology that they need and deserve,’ says John Bermingham, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Arklow RNLI. 

Unlike any other all-weather lifeboat, the Shannon class is propelled by waterjets instead of traditional propellers, making it very agile and manoeuvrable. It’s also 10 tonnes lighter than the Trent class. A Shannon class lifeboat will help Arklow volunteers reach people in trouble on the water more quickly and easily, no matter how challenging the conditions may be. And that could make all the difference when someone’s life is on the line. 

‘The Shannon has modern lifesaving features that will help keep the crew and those they rescue safer and more comfortable,’ says John. A fully integrated Systems and Information Management System (SIMS) will allow the crew to operate and monitor many of the lifeboat’s functions from the safety of their seats. Its unique hull will minimise slamming in heavy seas. And shock-absorbing seats will further protect the crew from impact when powering through the waves. 

'It’s been almost 30 years since we’ve had a new lifeboat, so this will mean so much to our volunteers and to the local community,' says John. 'The station has a special place in the hearts of people in Arklow, with so many having loved ones that have been rescued by our lifeboat crew over the years.'

'We'd be so grateful for any support to help raise €200,000 towards the cost of a new Shannon class lifeboat – a thousand euros for every year of the RNLI saving lives at sea.'

The RNLI is a charity, and Arklow volunteers rely on support from kind people like you to save lives. Your generosity will help provide a new state-of-the-art lifeboat to help them save more lives for years to come. And that will make you a lifesaver too.