The RNLI prototype Shannon class all-weather lifeboat is currently undergoing sea trials in the Irish Sea and will be visiting the Isle of Man this weekend, Saturday 13th to Sunday 14th April.
Currently, her planned itinerary is to be in Douglas from late Saturday afternoon to Sunday morning; in Ramsey, from late Sunday morning to mid-afternoon; in Peel for late Sunday afternoon; returning to Douglas for Sunday evening possibly via Port St Mary for refuelling.
During the course of her trials the Shannon is stopping off at a number of lifeboat stations that currently have Mersey class lifeboats, so that the station crews can familiarise themselves with the new boat and gain an idea of what to expect.
It is expected that Douglas, Ramsey and Peel lifeboats will be replaced with Shannon class all-weather lifeboats between 2016 and 2018.
The Shannon is the first modern RNLI all-weather lifeboat to be powered by waterjets instead of propellers, making it faster and more manoeuvrable when reaching casualties. The Shannon prototype has withstood the toughest sea conditions during her sea trials and is still being put her through her paces.
The first two Shannon class lifeboats should be operational within the year and will be the first class of lifeboat to be built in-house at the new All-weather Lifeboat Centre at RNLI headquarters in Poole Dorset. There are a number of Shannon class lifeboats currently in production and it is anticipated that these will be built before lifeboat production and maintenance moves the All-weather Lifeboat Centre. As long as everything goes to plan, they will be coming off the production line at a rate of one boat every two months. The first will be going to Dungeness Lifeboat Station in late November and the next is due at Exmouth Lifeboat Station in early 2014.
To learn more about the RNLI's Shannon class all-weather lifeboat go to www.rnli.org/lifeboat-building/the-shannon/Pages/the-shannon.aspx.
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