Island’s new inshore lifeboat ready for its first call-out

The new lifeboat was delivered on Wednesday and is now in service.

‘It is now in the water and has had its trial run and is awaiting its first call-out,’ said lifeboat operations manager Jason Hobbs.

‘It arrived on a trailer on Wednesday and was launched into the water and has now had its first trial run.’

The new lifeboat, which cost £300,000, was funded by donations from people within the Bailiwick.

The vessel has been named Harold Hobbs after the Guernseyman who was killed while serving on the RNLI’s Alfred and Clara Heath lifeboat in 1940.

He was shot from a German aircraft at the start of the Occupation of the Channel Islands.

Harold’s story has featured on the recent special episode of Saving Lives at Sea with Dermot O’Leary.

Harold was also the great-uncle of Jason Hobbs.

‘It is a very proud day for us all here at St Peter Port RNLI, to see the Harold Hobbs officially in service, ready to respond and assist anyone in difficulty around the waters of the Bailiwick,’ said Mr Hobbs.

The new lifeboat has been kitted out with all the navigational equipment that is essential for manoeuvring around the islands’ navigational hazards and varying sea states, and enables the station to continue supporting Guernsey, Sark and Herm.

Since 2019 the Bailiwick’s waters have been covered by the Elizabeth and Margaret Milligan inshore boat on a two-year trial, alongside the main Severn class all-weather Spirit of Guernsey lifeboat.

It soon became clear during the trial that the B-class Atlantic lifeboat was an important asset, which led to the new Harold Hobbs lifeboat being acquired.

The Elizabeth and Margaret Milligan was craned out of the harbour this week and was put on the road trailer that brought Harold Hobbs to Guernsey. The former boat has since been loaded onto the Commodore Goodwill to be shipped to Portsmouth and then Cowes on the Isle of Wight.