Last updated 19:28, Thursday, 27 November 2008

A NEW era has dawned for a West Cumbrian lifeboat station with the launch of the most advanced boat in the RNLI fleet.

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LIFESAVER: Helmsman Darran Irwin on the new Silloth lifeboat

Silloth’s new £160,000 lifeboat – the Atlantic 85 – has gone into service to replace the town rescue team’s old Atlantic 75 vessel.

It was bought with a legacy left by Cheshire man Don Wilkinson, a dedicated RNLI supporter who died in 2001.

The boat is named Elaine and Don Wilkinson in honour of the benefactor and his wife.

Atlantic 85 replaces the team’s old Atlantic 75 lifeboat ‘Spirit of Cumbria’.

Silloth RNLI operations manager Eddie Studholme said: “The crew are very impressed by their new lifeboat, which is faster and more capable than our previous Atlantic.

“The RNLI depends on donations and legacies like this, and without such generosity we would not be able to carry on our vital life-saving role.”

Atlantic 85 has advanced features which means she can operate more effectively in reduced visibility.

It is also bigger than Atlantic 75 and can fit a crew of four on board.

RNLI divisional inspector Andy Clift said: “It will enable our volunteer lifeboatmen and women to carry out their life-saving work more safely and effectively than ever before.”

The team at Silloth held an appeal in 2007 to raise £33,000 to fund the training of volunteers at the lifeboat station.

The team’s old boat, which was launched 98 times and rescued 53 people, will now be used as part of the RNLI relief fleet.