Scarborough RNLI welcomes new in-shore lifeboat
Scarborough RNLI has welcomed a new inshore lifeboat - the D-856 John Wesley Hillard IV.
Scarborough RNLI has welcomed a new inshore lifeboat.
D-856 John Wesley Hillard IV, the D-Class inshore lifeboat, arrived on station for the first time yesterday (Thursday 10th June).
Station Coxswain, Lee Marton, and Station Mechanic, Dave Horsely, prepared and checked over Scarborough’s new lifeboat thoroughly before a volunteer crew of three climbed aboard for sea trials in South Bay led by Lee.
Once the trials were complete, the charity’s new inshore lifeboat was officially put on service at around 1pm and will remain on service for an approximate 10-year commission.
D-856 John Wesley Hillard IV was funded by The Gay and Peter Hartley's Hillards Charitable Trust who has been a longstanding supporter of Scarborough Lifeboat Station and has funded the previous three inshore lifeboats.
The previous inshore lifeboat, D-724 John Wesley Hillard III, was relieved after serving 11 years and 6 months on station in which it was launched on service 208 times, saving seven lives and aiding a total of 191 people.
Notable services include the rescue of Ravi Saini in July 2020 when he found himself in difficulty in South Bay and was carried out to sea with the tide. Ravi remembered the ‘Float to Live’ advice offered by the RNLI which saved his life as the inshore lifeboat found him calm and floating on his back.
The RNLI’s D-Class inshore lifeboat is a 5 metre RIB capable of travelling at 25 knots and has been the workhorse of the RNLI for over 50 years. The charity says they are highly manoeuvrable and usually operate closer to shore than the all-weather lifeboats. They come into their own for searches and rescues in the surf, shallow water and confined locations - often close to cliffs, among rocks and even inside caves.