BARRY DOCK RNLI lifeboat station welcomed its new Shannon class all-weather lifeboat last weekend with hundreds of people gathering along Barry Island promenade to watch its arrival.
It was mainly funded thanks to a generous legacy by the late Mr Richard Colton, who left an extraordinary gift to the RNLI in his Will – two classic Ferrari cars. The two rare classic vehicles were sold at auction in 2015 for a total of £8.5m. Barry Dock’s new £2.5m all-weather lifeboat is the second Shannon class lifeboat funded by Mr Colton’s generous legacy and has consequently been named Richard and Caroline Colton II.
Impressively flanked by vessels from other RNLI stations as it entered Whitmore Bay, the Richard and Caroline Colton II lifeboat gave a demonstration of its capabilities to the watching spectators before heading to Barry Docks RNLI station for a warm reception from lifeboat crews, volunteers and supporters.
In September 2023, Barry Dock RNLI moved into a new purpose-built facility shared with Associated British Ports (ABP). It is modern new building with changing and showering facilities, a workshop for maintenance, and separate rooms and training facilities.
A spokesperson for Barry Dock RNLI said: “Thank you so much to everyone who shared our special day. It was wonderful to share this historic day with so many of you.
“Thank you to so many of the public for coming out and cheering us on. Your flag waving and enthusiasm was felt by all on board the lifeboats. It was very humbling.
“To all of our flank stations The Mumbles Lifeboat RNLI, RNLI Port Talbot, Porthcawl RNLI Lifeboat, RNLI Penarth Lifeboat Station, RNLI Portishead, RNLI Weston-super-Mare, RNLI Lifeboats at Burnham-on-Sea, Minehead RNLI Lifeboat Station, thank you for your time today and your professionalism always.
“Thanks also go to Barry Coastguard, Llantwit Major Coastguard, National Coastwatch Institution – St Donat’s Bay, Atlantic Pacific: Lifeboats where there are none, National Coastwatch Institution – Nell’s Point, RNLI Experience Barry Island, RNLI Lifeguards South East Wales . What a team!
“And to all our volunteers, whether crew or shore based. #OneCrew you are all amazing!”
Barry Dock RNLI station mechanic Ben Phillips said: “We’ve been planning for quite a few weeks but actually seeing all those flanked stations and all those people was absolutely incredible.
“It was definitely a once in a lifetime experience; we are never going to see that again.
“The last time we had a brand-new lifeboat was in 1968, so yeah this was a once in a lifetime, never going to see it again.”
Designed by RNLI engineers, the new lifeboat harnesses cutting-edge technology to ensure it meets the demands of a 21st century rescue service, building on systems developed for her big sister, the Tamar class lifeboat.
With the ability to reach speeds of 25 knots, the Shannon class is the most agile and manoeuvrable all-weather lifeboat in the RNLI fleet. It’s also the first modern all-weather lifeboat propelled by waterjets instead of propellers.
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