Girvan’s new Shannon lifeboat received its first call-out at the weekend to reach a broken down vessel.

At 3.51pm Saturday, June 2 the lifeboats volunteer crew were paged, and on arrival at station were informed of a motor cruiser that had engine failure just outside the harbour.

Girvan’s new Shannon Class all-weather lifeboat 13-23 ‘Elizabeth and Gertrude Allan’ was launched and made best speed to the stricken vessel, where the situation was assessed by the crew.

The casualty vessel was attached to the lifeboat and brought under tow to the harbour, where she was safely berthed by the crew.

With the casualty vessel securely berthed and the occupants safe and in no danger, the lifeboat then returned to her own mooring and was made ready for the next service call.

This was the first callout for the new £2.1 million Shannon Class lifeboat which was officially named on the Thursday, May 10 after formally going on service on Friday, April 20.

Shannon class lifeboats are built in-house by the RNLI, the £2.1 million cost of Girvan’s new lifeboat has been funded by the John & Elizabeth Allan Memorial Trust.

The Shannon class is the first of the RNLI’s all-weather lifeboats to be powered by water-jets rather than traditional propellers, making it the most agile and manoeuvrable lifeboat in the charity’s fleet.

The John & Elizabeth Allan Memorial Trust was set up in 1998 by Professor James Allan in memory of his parents. The trust has been able to fully fund two Shannon class all-weather lifeboats and two Atlantic 85 class inshore lifeboats and continues to support the RNLI.

Professor Allan decided to name this lifeboat, RNLB Elizabeth & Gertrude Allan, after his sisters, who have also since passed away.
The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. 

Volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service in the United Kingdom and Ireland from 238 lifeboat stations.

The RNLI relies on public donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. 
Since the RNLI was founded in 1824 our lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved at least 140,000 lives.

Credit: RNLI/Craig Sommerville