A new Shannon class lifeboat has arrived at its new home at Larne RNLI in Northern Ireland.
The lifeboat arrived on Sunday 15 February at 1358 (1.58pm) to coincide with the number on the side of the lifeboat, which will be named Machiko Nancy at a special ceremony and service of dedication later this year.
Gathered onlookers had an opportunity to view the lifeboat arriving at two points, first by the Chaine Memorial Tower and then the East Antrim Boat Club.
The £2.7m lifeboat will replace the station’s all-weather Trent class lifeboat Dr John McSparran, which has served the community off the Larne coast for the last quarter of a century.
Larne RNLI’s volunteers have been busy training in recent months to prepare themselves for the transition from a Trent to a Shannon class lifeboat. That training will now continue in Larne before the lifeboat goes on service and is officially declared a search and rescue asset in the near future.
The Shannon has been largely funded by donor Michael Cameron via the Cameron Family Charitable Foundation, and will be named in memory of his wife Machiko Nancy, one of the founders of that charity, as previously reported on Afloat.ie.
Michael was in Larne on Sunday to see the arrival of the lifeboat to its new home.
Larne RNLI extended its thanks to Redbay RNLI, Donaghadee RNLI, Bangor RNLI, The Port of Larne and East Antrim Boat Club, as well as to all others who offered their assistance and support on the day.
