Review to determine RNLI's next Douglas vessel

The last Mersey lifeboat for the RNLI was built in 1993

A consultation to ensure the life station based in the Isle of Man's capital has an appropriate lifeboat for the area is set to be launched, the RNLI has said.

The move comes amid longstanding infrastructure issues at the organisation's Douglas boathouse and ongoing negotiations for new one, as well as its current boat being set to retire in 2025.

The current lifeboat is one of two remaining Mersey class lifeboats in the RNLI’s fleet, a vessel that was introduced in 1988.

Regional head Jo Partner said It had been a "challenging" time for those at the station and the organisation was "confident" the review would "secure a way forward".

Negotiations

A decision to allocate a faster Shannon class lifeboat to the station to replace the "aging Mersey" had been made in 2016, but the charity said it would now review that allocation in a consultation process taking into account updated information.

The lifeboat station had operated beyond life expectancy leaving the crew using a temporary facility on the quayside, with the current vessel is based on a liner berth due to a safety issue with a winch in the boathouse itself.

Ms Partner said, despite "significant effort and resources" being put into the project to replace the boathouse over many years, the charity was "unable to secure a long-term solution for a new lifeboat station at Douglas".

The review would "help substantiate negotiations" with the Isle of Man government to "achieve a viable, cost effective and sustainable site" for Douglas RNLI, she added.

The government has been approached for a comment.

Station operations manager Peter Washington said while it was not the news the team had been hoping for, it was "essential" to "find a way forward to ensure the crew can continue to operate" as the boat would be coming out of service next year.

The review would help find a "permanent home for the most appropriate asset for the station", he added.