New Whitby lifeboat to carry names of up to 10,000 loved ones
It's been funded through the RNLI's 'Launch a Memory' campaign
Whitby RNLI has been confirmed as the next RNLI station to receive a Shannon class lifeboat, which will feature the names of up to 10,000 loved ones on the lifeboat.
Through the RNLI ‘Launch a Memory’ campaign, members of the public are invited to commemorate a loved one by making a suggested donation of £50 online and submitting that person’s name. The names will appear in the ‘decals’ – the lettering and numbering on the boat’s hull.
The lifeboat has been funded by a legacy (a gift left to the RNLI in a will). It will replace the station’s current Trent class lifeboat George and Mary Webb.
At a cost of £2.5 million, the Shannon is the latest class of all-weather lifeboat in the RNLI fleet. The charity says having waterjet propulsion instead of traditional propellers makes the Shannon the RNLI’s most manoeuvrable all-weather lifeboat.
Howard Fields, Coxswain of Whitby RNLI lifeboat station says:
"The crew here at Whitby are very excited to be receiving a Shannon class lifeboat – she’ll be fast and agile and equipped with the latest technology to help us get to those in danger more quickly.
"Knowing it’s a Launch a Memory boat, carrying the names of thousands of people’s loved ones, makes the boat even more special – the names of those individuals will be there with us every time we launch. It’s a wonderful way for people to remember their loved ones, helping their memory to live on and supporting the RNLI’s lifesaving work at the same time."
Lifeboat crews at Whitby say they have been saving lives for over 200 years and have received RNLI medals for gallantry 36 times. Since opening, its crews have launched 2,909 times and saved 1,234 lives.
This will be the fifth RNLI ‘Launch a Memory’ boat, with others located at Invergordon, Clifden, Wells and Anstruther.
The lifeboat will be built at the RNLI’s All-Weather Lifeboat Centre in Poole, Dorset, and is estimated to be on station at Whitby towards the end of 2023.
Anyone wishing to donate to the Whitby Launch a Memory lifeboat and add the name of a loved one should visit the RNLI's website.
The charity says those who donate to the campaign are politely asked not to contact the station directly for updates. They will receive regular email updates as the lifeboat is built and gets ready to launch, and there will be the option to share stories and pictures on a special online dedication page.