Portaferry RNLI in Northern Ireland will remain operational as essential works are carried out at Portaferry slipway until late November.
The work, which commenced on Monday (14 October), will see the slipway — usually used by both the station's inshore lifeboat and Strangford Ferry — closed while essential health and safety work is carried out.
However, the lifesaving efforts of Portaferry RNLI's volunteer crew will continue, with the lifeboat having already been moved to its temporary home within Portaferry Marina.
Heather Kennedy, Portaferry RNLI lifeboat operations manager said: “We’ve been aware of the work to the slipway for a couple of months now so we’ve had plenty of time to discuss our options and make a decision how best to continue the service of our lifeboat over the next few weeks.
“Should we receive a request to launch from the coastguard, everything will run exactly as normal with the lifeboat and shore crew arriving at the station and gathering information while getting into their lifeboat kit. Then rather than having to launch the lifeboat using the tractor, they will travel the short journey to the marina on foot.
“As well as the planned work to the slipway, road resurfacing work has also been brought forward to coincide with the suspension of the ferry and will include the area to the front of our lifeboat station. It’s great to get it all done while the lifeboat is across in the marina.
“We would still urge anyone who gets into difficulty on the water, or sees someone else in trouble to call 999 and ask for the coastguard.”
