AFTER years of planning, Girvan Lifeboat Station were proud to announce the arrival of their £2.1 million Shannon Class Lifeboat.

The 12-23 ‘Elizabeth and Gertrude Allan’ is a replacement for their outgoing Mersey class lifeboat, and she arrived at Girvan on Sunday, December 10 at precisely 1:23pm.

Events took place in the afternoon from 12pm with hot and cold drinks, snacks, BBQ entertainment, music and lifeboat demonstrations to keep those who attended occupied.

The volunteer crew made the journey south, on Sunday, December 3 to the HQ where a further couple of days training took place before they left on Wednesday, December 6 to begin the 460 mile passage back home to Girvan.

The crew brought the 13-23 RNLB Elizabeth and Gertrude Allan home into Girvan on Sunday, December 10. The lifeboat was helmed by the RNLI’s youngest Shannon Coxswain-Mechanic, Callum Govus who is only 25.

The new lifeboat arrived into the harbour escorted by a coastguard search and rescue helicopter before the demonstration took place. 

This is the RNLI’s latest and most advanced all-weather lifeboat and the first to be propelled by water jets instead of traditional propellers. 

Water-jets allow the vessel to operate in shallow waters and be intentionally beached and work in hazardous conditions.