Eastbourne’s Diamond Jubilee lifeboat to be moved to Kent
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A spokesperson from the RNLI said due to operational needs within the charity Eastbourne’s Tamar class lifeboat (Diamond Jubilee) will be moved to Ramsgate as the larger deck capacity of the boat is better suited for the calls that the Kent station receives.
The RNLI spokesperson added: "The safety of our volunteer crews and the people who need assistance is the highest priority for the RNLI and this move will allow us to continue saving lives at sea. Before the redeployment takes place all crew will be trained and competent on the incoming class of all-weather boat.”
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Hide AdThere will be an all-weather lifeboat coming to the Eastbourne station when the Diamond Jubilee is redeployed and there will be no change in the station’s operational capability, according to the spokesperson from the RNLI.
The RNLI explained that there is currently no date set for the redeployment and that more information will be released closer to the time.
The Tamar class lifeboat was thought to be the RNLI’s most sophisticated and safest boat when it was introduced into the charity’s fleet back in 2005.
Currently, there are just 23 RNLI stations in the UK with a Tamar class all-weather lifeboat.
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Hide AdHer Majesty was a patron of the RNLI and a service of dedication was held on the waterfront at Sovereign Harbour as part of the celebrations.
Eastbourne Lifeboat Station has a long and esteemed history in the town. The station was established in 1822, two years before the RNLI itself was founded, and has been awarded 10 medals for gallantry over the years – with the most recent being a silver and bronze that were awarded back in 2003.
The town also has the first permanent lifeboat museum, which opened in 1937.