Howth RNLI has confirmed that construction is underway on its new Shannon-class all-weather lifeboat, which will replace the station's Trent-class Roy Barker III next year after almost 25 years of service.
Howth RNLI's new Shannon-class all-weather lifeboat is already under construction at the RNLI's All-Weather Lifeboat Centre in Poole, Dorset, ahead of its planned arrival at the north Dublin station in 2027.
The development marks the beginning of a new chapter for the Howth volunteer crew, which is preparing to retire its long-serving Trent-class lifeboat Roy Barker III, stationed at Howth Harbour since 2002.
The replacement was confirmed under the RNLI's 2040 Lifeboat Fleet Strategy, which sets out changes to the charity's rescue fleet over the coming years.
Howth is among several Irish lifeboat stations scheduled for new vessels, although its move to the Shannon class will maintain an all-weather lifeboat capability on the northern side of Dublin Bay.
Shannon Class Brings Waterjet Propulsion to Howth
The Shannon is the RNLI's latest generation of all-weather lifeboat, designed to operate in demanding conditions while providing improved speed and manoeuvrability.
Capable of speeds of up to 25 knots, the class uses waterjet propulsion rather than conventional propellers, allowing crews to manoeuvre in confined waters and undertake rescue operations close to casualties.
The Shannon-class lifeboat also incorporates modern navigation and lifesaving equipment.
Howth RNLI confirmed that construction of its replacement vessel is underway at the RNLI's purpose-built manufacturing facility in Poole.
The station welcomed the news as an important development for its volunteer crew and the communities it serves along the north Dublin coastline and Dublin Bay.
Farewell Approaches for Roy Barker III
The arrival of the Shannon will bring to an end almost a quarter-century of service by Roy Barker III, Howth's Trent-class all-weather lifeboat.
Stationed at Howth since 2002, the lifeboat has been a familiar sight in Howth Harbour and across Dublin Bay, carrying successive generations of volunteer crew on rescue missions.
Its service has included assistance to recreational sailors, commercial vessels and other people experiencing difficulties at sea.
The station said there would be opportunities to celebrate the lifeboat's service and reflect on the lives it has helped save before its replacement arrives.
The retirement forms part of the RNLI's wider programme to withdraw the Trent class from operational service by the end of 2028.
Different Fleet Changes Across Dublin Bay
Howth's transition to the Shannon comes as the RNLI prepares for more extensive changes to lifeboat provision around the Irish coast.
Under the fleet strategy, Dún Laoghaire is scheduled to receive the RNLI's new coastal lifeboat class in 2028, replacing its existing Trent-class vessel.
Rosslare Harbour is scheduled to move from the Severn class to the new coastal class in 2029, followed by Sligo Bay and Wicklow in 2030.
The new coastal class, developed around the Zodiac Hurricane ZH 1129 design, will provide an enclosed wheelhouse, self-righting capability and improved casualty recovery arrangements.
The plans follow the RNLI's earlier announcement of its new coastal lifeboat design, which is intended to meet changing patterns of rescue demand, particularly within ten nautical miles of the coast.
Unlike those stations moving to the coastal class, Howth will retain a Shannon-class all-weather lifeboat, continuing its role within the RNLI's wider rescue network in the Irish Sea.
The Shannon is also being introduced at other Irish stations, including Fenit, where the new Roy Barker VII entered operational service in 2026.
For Howth, the immediate focus is on preparing for the arrival of its new lifeboat while continuing operations aboard Roy Barker III.
As the station put it, while the lifeboat may be changing, its mission remains the same: saving lives at sea.
