The Shannon is the RNLI’s latest all-weather lifeboat and will replace the Spirit of Guernsey, possibly from 2028.
The newest Shannon Mk2 incorporates upgraded navigation and onboard management systems, helping crews operate more effectively while improving their safety and the long-term maintenance of the lifeboat.
‘Our boat is a Severn class boat, it’s quite a lot larger, it’s driven by propellers and is a more traditional sort of boat, but that boat is now over 30 years old and has started to age a little bit,’ said RNLI Guernsey lifeboat operations manager Richard Evans.
‘The RNLI has decided that as part of its fleet replacement strategy, it will be replaced with a Shannon.’
RNLI relief lifeboat John Metters arrived in Guernsey yesterday, following visits to Alderney and Jersey, to give local crews hands-on experience of the brand new technology, systems and layout before it enters service. The new Guernsey lifeboat will be identical to yesterday’s visitor, which will remain in St Peter Port for the next two days. ‘It’s going to be different, it will take a bit of getting used to,’ said Mr Evans.
‘I think the crew are a little bit disappointed that they’re going to be losing their beloved Severn, but it’s a very capable boat and we’ll make it do what we need it to do.
‘One of the reasons it’s here at the moment is so that our crew can experience it, start to get to grips with it and what the differences are and then over the next couple of days, we’re going out to do some exercises.’
Over the next 18 months, Alderney, St Helier and St Peter Port will each receive a Shannon class all-weather lifeboat, replacing their existing all-weather lifeboats.
Training on the new boat will be very similar to what the crew does now, and the local team has already carried out 100 exercises on its two boats so far this year.
Guernsey will also have responsibility for selecting a name for its new lifeboat.
‘We’ve been given naming rights, but we have to be fairly sensible about it given previous experiences with people naming various boats around the world,’ said Mr Evans.
‘The local management group will have a discussion about how they want to handle that and what it might look like, and I’m sure we’ll let the public know what’s going on when we decide.’
Scott Ranft, RNLI area operations manager covering the Channel Islands, said that the visit gives the Channel Islands crews hands-on experience before their own new boats arrive.
‘The crews at Alderney, St Helier and St Peter Port are preparing for the transition and spending time aboard the Shannon now will help build confidence and familiarity ahead of the formal training programme,’ he said.
‘It’s also a great opportunity for our search and rescue partners to see the lifeboat and learn more about its capabilities.’