Flares equipped on new Union Hall RNLI lifeboat

07/07/2021

A new inshore Atlantic 85 class lifeboat equipped with flares has officially begun service at Union Hall RNLI, in Ireland.

It replaces the last Atlantic 75 in Ireland, Margaret Bench of Solihull, which has been used to save lives at sea in West Cork since 2017.

The vessel has been funded through a legacy from the late Raymond Fielding. Raymond and his wife Christine were keen sailors and sailed into Glandore Harbour, West Cork, many times. The Christine and Raymond Fielding will be officially named at a special naming ceremony and service of dedication at Union Hall RNLI station at a later date.

The Atlantic 85 carries a full suite of communication and electronic navigation aids. It also carries a searchlight, night-vision equipment and flares for night-time operations.

Extremely grateful for new lifeboat

John Kelleher, Union Hall RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, who works for Pains Wessex and Comet Ireland distributor, CH Marine, says, ‘We are extremely grateful to Raymond Fielding for his generous legacy donation which has funded our permanent lifeboat here at Union Hall. As we welcome a new lifeboat, there is also a sense of nostalgia as we are the last lifeboat station in Ireland to use an Atlantic 75 lifeboat.

‘We are looking forward to being the custodians of this new lifeboat which will allow our volunteers to go on to rescue and save many more lives in the years to come.’

The Atlantic 85 design allows room for four crew members and more kit than the Atlantic 75 lifeboat. It only had room for three crew members.

It is powered by two 115 horsepower engines and has a stronger hull and greater top speed of 35 knots. The added radar allows the crew to operate more effectively in poor visibility and there is also VHF direction-finding equipment.

The vessel also has a manually operated self-righting mechanism. This, combined with inversion-proofed engines, keeps the Altantic 85 operational even after capsize. It can also be beached in an emergency without causing damage to its engines or steering gear.

The picture shows Union Hall RNLI’s lifeboat, Christine and Raymond Fielding. It is credited to RNLI/Union Hall.