Douglas RNLI lifeboat to be replaced amid talks on station's future
Douglas RNLI is to get a new lifeboat as a "interim solution" while talks continue over station's future.A Trent class all-weather lifeboat will replace the current Mersey class - a vessel that was introduced in 1988 and is set to be withdrawn from service later this year.The decision follows a review launched in October to determine the most appropriate lifeboat to serve the Manx capital.Regional head Jo Partner said move would ensure the "continuity" of the service while discussions with the government about the long-term future of the branch continued.
The update follows longstanding infrastructure issues at the organisation's Douglas boathouse and ongoing negotiations over new one.A decision to allocate a faster Shannon class lifeboat to the station to replace the "aging Mersey" had been made in 2016.Since then the lifeboat station has operated beyond life expectancy, leaving the crew to use a temporary facility on the quayside.The current vessel is based on a liner berth because of a safety issue with a winch in the boathouse itself.Announcing the interim measures, the RNLI said it hoped the new vessel would be operational in the spring after the formal licence for the liner berth had been issued by the Department of Infrastructure.
'Longer-term solution'
The creation of the RNLI, which celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2024, was first proposed by Douglas resident Sir William Hillary in 1823.Ms Partner said the organisation recognised the historic significance of Douglas "alongside the current lifesaving impact the lifeboat station had" in the area.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
10 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
'I flew Boeing planes for 40 years – the Air India crash was bound to happen'
Ross Aimer, a pilot for top airlines including United Airlines from 1964 to 2004, has said he is 'shocked' but 'not that surprised' that the Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner crashed A retired pilot who flew Boeing planes for 40 years says he's not surprised by the devastating Air India crash that killed all but one person on board. Harrowing footage shows the Air India Boeing 787 Dreamliner smashing into the ground before erupting into a fireball shortly after take-off. It was bound for Gatwick, London, after taking off in Ahmedabad, India, with 242 on board. One person, Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, survived. Ross Aimer, a pilot for top airlines including United Airlines from 1964 to 2004, says he's not surprised by the crash given recent issues with the 787. Aimer said: "I'm shocked, but knowing some of the issues with the 787, I'm not that surprised. It was bound to happen. "It's way too early to speculate. There's no way we know enough to even think about what may have gone wrong, but I saw the initial video of the take-off. The aircraft was full of fuel and bound to Gatwick. It's a tragedy, but we have no idea what may have caused the airplane to crash. "Looks like the weather may not have been an issue because you probably saw the video, it's in clear skies. The only thing I could think of is possibly an engine failure, because the aircraft sinks on takeoff. It's at its highest gross weight at that time." It is the first crash involving the model since its introduction in 2011, but there have been issues that have forced some flights to be grounded. The US safety regulator, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), has had to investigate a number of concerns over the years, reports The Guardian. It also comes after Boeing was rocked by two crashes involving its 737 Max model in Indonesia and Ethiopia in 2018 and 2019. Aimer, who lives in California, said he suspects authorities will be considering grounding the plane. He added: "It looks to me like that aircraft basically sank into the ground. I don't know about the flaps, but the 787 is perhaps the most advanced technology available at this moment. "Air India may have had the Rolls-Royce Trent engine option on it. There was some controversy on that engine itself. It's called the Trent engine, and it had been grounded for a while. "It had issues with corrosion and cracks within the engine. So it's not only the aircraft itself, it's a possibility that there was an engine issue too. I'm sure the authorities will look into this. In the past we've had engines and aircraft grounded, and I'm sure if they find out that there are any issues to be looked at, they will think about grounding the airplane." Authorities said there were 159 Indian nationals on the plane, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese and one Canadian. It is reported the only remaining survivor was a British man. Astonishing footage shows one man walking away from the wreckage before being pictured on a hospital bed. Asked what would be going through his mind if he was still an active pilot, Aimer said: "Like any pilot with some experience would do, I'd be extremely cautious. But that's a normal way till we find out what exactly happened. To make a blanket statement that the aircraft is not safe would be irresponsible. "But I'm not surprised, because we know there were a lot of problems with this aircraft, and they continue to have issues with manufacturing." He added: "I'm afraid so (people may lose confidence in aviation). I don't blame people being leery about aviation after all these crashes that are happening."
BBC News
20 hours ago
- BBC News
Devon boat builder to restore Dunkirk lifeboat
A boat builder from Devon is set to restore a vessel which helped evacuate thousands of soldiers from 26 May to 4 June 1940, hundreds of vessels sailed through heavy enemy fire to rescue more than 338,000 British and Allied troops from the beaches of Dunkirk as part of Operation builder Abbey Molyneux, originally from Exeter, said the Guide of Dunkirk lifeboat, which has spent 40 years in Mevagissey, in Cornwall, would be transported to her boatyard in Norfolk for the restoration."She saved thousands of lives on the run to Dunkirk and we're now going to try and restore her," she said. Ms Molyneux told BBC Radio Devon the Guide of Dunkirk was built in the 1940s and was in "perfect condition".According to the RNLI, 700 civilian vessels, now known as the Little Ships of Dunkirk, made the crossing along with 19 RNLI lifeboats."They used all sorts of different boats and the Guide of Dunkirk was very popular, as were a lot of lifeboats because they've got a very shallow draft," Ms Molyneux said."They saved thousands and thousands of lives because they were the boats that could get closest to the shore to rescue the soldiers." She added: "These little lifeboats were a key part of the whole evacuation."Ms Molyneux, who has restored up to 30 Dunkirk little ships, said she hoped to restore the vessel back to its original condition and take it back to Dunkirk in the Guide of Dunkirk will arrive in Norfolk on Friday.
Rhyl Journal
3 days ago
- Rhyl Journal
Rhyl pub with new landlady will host RNLI fundraiser weekend
Naomi Clarke, 43, who is 'born and bred in Rhyl', is the new landlady of The Swan, on Russell Road. She started running the pub in late March, and has organised this weekend's fundraiser at the venue (June 14-15). Rhyl has its own RNLI lifeboat station on East Parade – it was established in 1852 and is now one of the busiest in Wales. Its new boathouse was completed in 2001, and it houses both an all-weather and an inshore lifeboat. Naomi said: 'We're looking for local businesses to donate raffle prizes and help our local RNLI crew with vital funds that are needed every day to help them save lives at sea, and to help with all of their hard work for us in our community. 'We will be having live music all weekend, with great offers on drinks (with our new price range added), and will also be celebrating Father's Day on Sunday, too. 'There is no better place to be this weekend.' The Swan is situated just off Rhyl's town centre. The property also features a dining area, five bedrooms, an enclosed external patio/garden, and a separate shop premises available in addition to the pub. After taking on the running of the pub, Naomi told the Journal in April: 'It's my first pub as a landlady. I've lived here all of my life, and it's one of the oldest pubs in Rhyl. 'It just appealed to me in every way.'
