New Portree RNLI lifeboat arrives

Named RNLB Peter and Mary (13-59), this is the first new permanent lifeboat for the Portree RNLI station in 30 years and will take over from the veteran Trent class Stanley Watson Barker (14-16) later this year.

The new vessel, named Peter and Mary, set sail from the All Weather Lifeboat Centre in Poole on April 14 and called at Falmouth, Arklow in Ireland, Campbeltown and Oban for overnight berthing during a five-day journey.

The boat, which is powered by water jets rather than conventional propellers, arrived at Portree at 2pm on April 18 to a raucous welcome from a crowd of spectators.

Stuart Nicolson, coxswain at Portree RNLI, was part of the delivery voyage crew.

He said : "I’d like to say a huge thank you to our volunteer crew who have been putting in many hours of intensive training – both at the All Weather Lifeboat Centre in Poole and at home in Portree – in preparation for the arrival of our new vessel.

"We are all excited to welcome this new Shannon class lifeboat into Portree Bay. The crew who have been training onboard her have already commented on her excellent sea-going qualities, manoeuvrability and efficiency.

"This is the start of a new chapter for the RNLI in Portree and we are looking forward to continuing to serve our island and neighbouring communities for many years to come."

Several other vessels, including the outgoing Portree RNLI lifeboat Stanley Watson Barker (14-16) guided the new Shannon class vessel into Portree bay; there was also a traditional seafaring salute with water canons being fired.

The Stanley Watson Barker will stay on active service at Portree for several weeks to make sure that there is no gap in service during the crew’s training onboard the new one.