Dún Laoghaire, Rosslare Harbour, Wicklow and Sligo Bay are to receive the RNLI's new coastal lifeboat class between 2028 and 2030, under a major restructuring of rescue capabilities around Ireland and Britain.
The RNLI has confirmed that four Irish lifeboat stations – Dún Laoghaire, Rosslare Harbour, Wicklow and Sligo Bay – will receive its new coastal lifeboat class between 2028 and 2030 as part of a major fleet modernisation programme.
The announcement confirms information previously obtained by Afloat that three east coast stations were in line for the new boats, with Sligo Bay now also identified among the recipients.
Dún Laoghaire will be among the first stations to receive the new class in 2028, replacing its existing Trent-class all-weather lifeboat. Rosslare Harbour will exchange its Severn-class lifeboat for the coastal class in 2029, while Wicklow's Shannon-class lifeboat will be replaced in 2030.
Sligo Bay will move from its Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat to the new coastal class in 2030.
The changes form part of the RNLI's newly announced 2040 Lifeboat Fleet Strategy, which will see 24 of the charity's 238 lifeboat stations undergo changes in lifeboat capability between 2028 and 2030.
Four Irish Stations Named for Coastal Lifeboats
The new coastal lifeboat has been designed to bridge the gap between the RNLI's existing Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat and Shannon-class all-weather lifeboat.
The class is being developed from the Zodiac Hurricane ZH 1129 design and will feature a watertight wheelhouse, self-righting capability and improved technology for rescue operations closer to shore.
The RNLI says the new vessel will be optimised for operations within 10 nautical miles of shore, with the capability to operate up to 25 nautical miles offshore, providing improved casualty recovery capabilities and support for neighbouring lifeboat stations.
As Afloat previously reported, the design was selected following an evaluation programme involving volunteer lifeboat crews and RNLI technical specialists.
The charity has also outlined plans for eight coastal lifeboats in the first production year, with four to be built by Zodiac and four at its Lifeboat Support Centre in Poole, Dorset.
Two prototype vessels are planned for 2027, ahead of the class entering operational service in 2028.
RNLI Responds to Changing Rescue Demands
The RNLI says the fleet changes are based on detailed analysis of rescue activity and the changing ways people use the sea and coastline.
Between 2017 and 2025, 98% of RNLI lifeboat responses took place within 10 nautical miles of shore, with 1.8% between 10 and 25 nautical miles and just 0.2% beyond 25 nautical miles.
The charity recorded 9,058 operational lifeboat services in 2025, more than three and a half times the level of demand anticipated 50 years ago.
It says fewer rescue services now involve boats and other vessels, with increasing numbers of incidents involving people entering the water from beaches for activities such as open-water swimming, kayaking and paddleboarding.
The strategy aims to ensure that appropriate rescue capabilities are available across neighbouring stations and other search and rescue services, rather than considering each lifeboat station in isolation.
The RNLI says its integrated rescue service will continue to provide all-weather coverage around Ireland and Britain, extending to 75 nautical miles offshore.
Wider Irish Fleet Changes
The strategy also provides for the gradual withdrawal of the Trent-class all-weather lifeboat by the end of 2028, following its introduction in 1994.
Other changes in Ireland include the replacement of Trent-class lifeboats with Shannon-class vessels at Howth in 2027 and Achill Island in 2028.
Fenit and Larne are also listed for Trent-to-Shannon changes in 2026.
RNLI chief executive Peter Sparkes said the charity's decisions were based on evidence and aimed at ensuring the right lifeboats were deployed in the right places.
"We make evidence-based decisions and strive to ensure that we have the right lifeboats in the right places, at the right time to save as many lives as possible around the coast of the UK and Ireland and, crucially, to enable us to bring our selfless, dedicated people home safely," he said.
He added that the charity had a responsibility to volunteer crews to provide capable lifeboats, protective equipment and training, while ensuring donors' money was spent effectively.
The RNLI says its fleet strategy will guide investment over the next 15 years, including upgrades to the Shannon and Atlantic 85 classes and the introduction of new technology.
As Afloat reported when the coastal lifeboat programme was first outlined, the new class is a central element of the charity's plans to modernise its rescue fleet.
The confirmed allocations represent a significant change in lifeboat provision at Dún Laoghaire, Rosslare Harbour and Wicklow, where existing all-weather lifeboats are scheduled to be replaced by the new coastal class.
