Kilkeel RNLI has entered a new chapter in its lifesaving history with the arrival of a Shannon-class all-weather lifeboat. The new vessel, Bobby Cameron, was officially declared a search-and-rescue asset by Belfast Coastguard at 7pm on Friday, 5 June. Within hours, it responded to its first emergency call, rescuing a lone sailor.
The milestone follows months of intensive training by Kilkeel RNLI's volunteer crew as they transitioned from operating an Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat to the larger Shannon-class all-weather vessel.
The lifeboat will be formally named during a dedication and naming ceremony planned for August. Bobby Cameron was donated by Miss Margaret Cameron and named in memory of her late brother, Robert. As a legacy lifeboat, it also honours a number of RNLI supporters whose contributions have helped fund lifesaving services across Ireland and the UK.
Kilkeel RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager John Fisher described the occasion as a significant achievement for the station. "This is a major achievement for the station and marks the culmination of months of training by our selfless and dedicated crew," he said. "We want to sincerely thank everyone who got us to this point – our crew for their commitment to training, our wider team of volunteers for their support and our staff team who facilitated the training and supported our journey."
The arrival of the Shannon-class lifeboat also signals the end of service for the station's Atlantic 85 lifeboat, Frank William Walton, which has served the local area for two decades.
During its 20 years on station, the lifeboat launched 266 times. Volunteer crews rescued 207 people, saving 11 lives.
RNLI Area Operations Manager Martin Phillips praised the station team for the commitment required to complete the transition. "The volume of training and assessments that the station has achieved and the dedication to get to this day is something I cannot underestimate," he said.
"The transition from an inshore Atlantic 85 class to a Shannon is a complex, demanding and far from quick process. It requires resilience, teamwork and often time spent away from families and jobs." He added, "I want to wish the team well as they now embark on this new era of lifesaving."
