SWANAGE Pier was packed full of people welcoming the arrival of a brand new lifeboat.

With an entourage made up of the Coastguard helicopter and a flotilla of several RNLI vessels, the Shannon class lifeboat arrived at her new home after journeying from Weymouth.

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After mooring up alongside the pier, RNLI volunteers demonstrated the vessel’s capabilities before allowing members of the public to take a closer look.

The all-weather lifeboat (ALB) has been named after the late Mr George Thomas Lacy, who left a legacy for the use of the RNLI in Dorset in his will.

Swanage RNLI’s Shannon class is the thirteenth of its kind to join RNLI fleets across the country.

Dave Corben, duty launching authority and deputy lifeboat operations manager, said the George Thomas Lacy is now the most advanced boat in Swanage RNLI’s fleet.

“It has a speed of up to 30 knots, so with Swanage it means we’ll be able to rescue people out into the Channel, and we’ll be able to get there within an hour.

“Whereas, with the old boat, it would take over two hours. If anybody’s in the water, we’ll be able to get to them very much quicker.”

Along with their new ALB, Swanage RNLI is anticipating the completion of their new £3.5million lifeboat station in September.

Dave added: “We were told over three years ago we were going to get this new boat. The RNLI then asked us to raise funds locally. We were set the task of raising £200,000, and, with the local community’s help, we achieved over £460,000.

“I’m so honoured that I’m still involved after 45 years,” he continued. “This is a very special day – all the more so because my son is now part of the crew, and he’s been in training with the boat for the last five days.

“I brought the old lifeboat in 25 years ago, and now my son’s brought this one in. It’s a great honour.”

Martin Steedman, a volunteer coxswain, is hanging up his lifejacket after almost four decades with the RNLI. He helmed the existing Mersey class Robert Charles Brown as it led the new Shannon class into the bay for the first time.

“This boat is a brilliant mark of the future,” he said. “The crew here are brilliant, and this is a fantastic advancement for them. It’s a great bit of kit.”

Martin will be handing out when the new lifeboat goes on operational service towards the end of April. His final duty will be to take the Mersey class lifeboat back to RNLI HQ in Poole.

Dave Turnball, RNLI mechanic at Swanage Lifeboat Station, will take over his role.

He said: “Our Mersey class, which has served us so well, is based on design which is around 30 years old, so you can imagine how much the technology and design have moved on.

“That said, despite the amount of technology involved, in many respects the new lifeboat is simpler to work with, as well as being quicker, more comfortable, and above all, safer.”

The current Mersey class lifeboat will remain in service throughout until the Shannon is declared an operational lifesaving asset.