New £2.7m Shannon Class Lifeboat set to join Larne RNLI fleet

The bell ringing ceremony for the Larne RNLI Shannon class all-weather lifeboat Machiko Nancy 13-58 at the All-Weather Lifeboat Centre in Poole. The ceremony was attended by donor Michael Cameron and several crew members from Larne lifeboat station.

(Images: Nathan Williams)

A new Shannon class lifeboat is on its way to Larne RNLI, marking the beginning of a new era in lifesaving for the coastal community after 25 years of dedicated service from its outgoing Trent class lifeboat, Dr John McSparran.

This morning (Tuesday, 21 October), a seven-strong delegation from Larne RNLI attended a traditional bell ringing ceremony at the charity’s All-Weather Lifeboat Centre in Poole, where the new lifeboat was officially launched into the water for the first time.

The £2.7 million vessel will undergo final sea trials and commissioning before making her way to Larne to begin service.

The Larne team included Lifeboat Boathouse Manager Jim Kerr, Senior Station Technician Derek Rea, and volunteer crew members Chris Dorman, Ross Stewart, Nigel Kane, Roy McMullan and Gary Hanna, who had the opportunity to see the completed vessel and tour the state-of-the-art production facility.

The Larne RNLI team including Lifeboat Boathouse Manager Jim Kerr, Senior Station Technician Derek Rea, and volunteer crew members Chris Dorman, Ross Stewart, Nigel Kane, Roy McMullan and Gary Hanna with the Larne RNLI Shannon class all-weather lifeboat Machiko Nancy 13-58

Derek Rea described the event as a proud and emotional moment for the station.

“It was a privilege for us to be here this morning and to represent our wider station team. Welcoming this new lifeboat heralds a new chapter in Larne RNLI’s history, one that will bring fresh training commitments and dedication for our crew.

“Our Trent class lifeboat has served us well for the last 25 years and there is a sense of nostalgia as we prepare to say farewell. However, with a strong tradition of helping those in difficulty off the Larne coast, we know this new Shannon once it goes on service, will only serve to strengthen our proud lifesaving history.”

He added:

“Our team has always maintained our lifeboats to the highest standards and our volunteers have always dedicated themselves to learning and adopting the necessary skills to save lives at sea.

“We are extremely grateful for the opportunity to do this once again on a new class of lifeboat, knowing this new era is thanks to a significant investment in lifesaving on our coast.

“We would like to thank our volunteers and their families for their continued support as we now look to embrace what will be a busy but exciting few months ahead, and we wish to extend our appreciation to all those who we know will guide and support us through the transition.”

The ceremony was attended by donor Michael Cameron , with the new Larne RNLI Shannon class all-weather lifeboat named after his late wife Machiko Nancy.

The new Shannon class lifeboat, which represents the latest in the RNLI’s cutting-edge all-weather fleet, has been largely funded by donor Michael Cameron through the Cameron Family Charitable Foundation. It will be named in memory of his late wife, Machiko Nancy, one of the foundation’s founders.

The official naming ceremony and service of dedication will take place next year at a date to be confirmed.

Machiko, who was born in Vancouver, Canada in 1954, was of Japanese-Canadian heritage. A qualified accountant in both Canada and England and Wales, she built a successful career in business before retiring in 2010 to focus on gardening and dancing. She passed away in September 2020 following a short illness.

Her husband Michael said naming the lifeboat in her memory is a fitting tribute:

“Throughout her life, she lived according to the samurai attributes accredited to her family. These comprise independence, determination, ambition, strength, reliability and professionalism. She also strived to help others throughout her life and is still much missed by the many whose lives she touched.

“All of this strikes a chord with the RNLI’s mission to save lives at sea and the naming of this lifeboat is more than an appropriate tribute to her memory.”

As Larne RNLI prepares for the arrival of its new lifeboat, the community looks forward to continuing its proud tradition of saving lives at sea — a mission that remains as vital today as it was when the Dr John McSparran first launched 25 years ago.