First Shannon-class lifeboat arrives in SE Ireland
6th October 2021
Dunmore East RNLI recently welcomed their new €2.4m Shannon-class lifeboat, the William and Agnes Wray.
A six-person crew from Dunmore East RNLI had travelled to collect the state- of-the-art lifeboat from the RNLI’s All-Weather Lifeboat Centre in Poole earlier in the week.
A warm welcome awaited the crew as lifeboats from Kilmore Quay and Fethard RNLI formed a guard of honour, alongside the station’s retiring Trent- class lifeboat Elizabeth and Ronald, which has been on service since 1996. The Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 117 was also in attendance overhead, as were Dunmore East Coast Guard and the local fire service.
The arrival of the new lifeboat was particularly special for two of Dunmore East’s crew. Coxswain/mechanic Roy Abrahamsson brought the new lifeboat into Dunmore East harbour, just as his late father, coxswain/mechanic Walter Abrahamsson, did with the Trent-class lifeboat in 1996. For Brendan Dunne, a volunteer crewmember with the RNLI for 36 years, this will be the third all-weather lifeboat he has served on.
The arrival of the new lifeboat means a demanding training schedule for the station in the weeks ahead. The Trent-class lifeboat will remain on call until the crew are familiar with their new lifeboat, and they officially inform the Coast Guard that the William and Agnes Wray is on service.
Dunmore East RNLI coxswain Roy Abrahamsson said: “This is a very proud moment for the lifeboat crew, the station’s fundraisers and the community of Dunmore East.
“While we have huge affection for our current Trent-class lifeboat, which has served us so well and brought many people home, we are thrilled to receive a state-of-the-art Shannon- class lifeboat, the first of its type to be based in the South East. It’s a huge investment by the RNLI in lifesaving for this area, and will help us to continue to save lives at sea for generations to come.”
This story was taken from the latest issue of Fishing News. For more up-to-date and in-depth reports on the UK and Irish commercial fishing sector, subscribe to Fishing News here or buy the latest single issue for just £3.30 here.
