Peel RNLI volunteers are proud to announce that they are to be allocated a new Shannon class lifeboat. 

The volunteers were told in a letter signed by the charity’s Operations Director, George Rawlinson that the ?2.2M Shannon class lifeboat is provisionally set to arrive on station in 2021. 

The Shannon class lifeboat, which was designed to replace the Mersey and Tyne class lifeboats, is the first modern all-weather lifeboat to be propelled by waterjets instead of traditional propellers, making her the most agile and manoeuvrable all-weather lifeboat yet.  Reaching top speeds of 25 knots, the Shannon is nearly 50% faster than the Mersey, giving crews the ability to reach and assist casualties faster when time is of the essence.

Allen Corlett, Peel RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, said:

‘To be allocated a new Shannon class lifeboat is great news for Peel RNLI. We cover a large part of the northwest Irish Sea and frequently operate more than 10 miles from Peel. The Shannon class lifeboat will enable us to reach those in difficulty in a little more than half the time we currently can.   As a crew we look forward to the training and the chance to develop our skills further in preparation for the lifeboat’s arrival to the Island in 2021.’

Peel RNLI volunteers launched their Mersey class lifeboat Ruby Clery on service 12 times in 2016, rescuing 16 people in trouble at sea. 

Photo - A Shannon class RNLI lifeboat. Credit RNLI/Nathan Williams.