New lifeboat enters service at Troon RNLI lifeboat station
New lifeboat enters service at Troon RNLI lifeboat station
Lifeboats News Release
Following two months of training for the volunteer crewmembers, at 13.55 on Friday 4 July 2025 our new RNLI Shannon class all-weather lifeboat Roy Barker VI officially entered service as Troon lifeboat taking over from Trent class all-weather lifeboat RNLB Jim Moffat.
The new Shannon class lifeboat has been largely funded from the legacy of Mr Frederick Roy Barker, who was known as Roy, who left his entire estate to the RNLI, with the request that the income received from the fund be known as the Roy Barker Memorial Fund. Roy admired the dedication, skill and bravery of the volunteer crews and, indeed, their families who support them.
The kind legacy of Mr Alan Lionel Aspinall also contributed towards the completion of the new lifeboat. Mr Aspinall had a deep love and interest in boats and ships of all types and recognised the vital role that lifeboats provide to the seafaring communities.
Troon RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager Jim Redmond said: ‘This a very proud day in the history of Troon RNLI lifeboat station with our new Shannon class lifeboat officially going on service as the new lifeboat for Troon.
‘Since the new Shannon class lifeboats arrival in May, all the lifeboat crew have shown dedication and commitment throughout their training. As volunteers, the demands on their time for them and their families is high, and even more as they trained on the new lifeboat. I am grateful for their hard work, and they are a credit to the station.
'However as we welcome a new lifeboat, there is also a sense of sadness as we say goodbye to our outgoing lifeboat
RNLB Jim Moffat that has served the station for over two decades. Since 2004, funded by the Lifeboats of the Clyde appeal, our outgoing lifeboat Trent class lifeboat carried out over 770 callouts, saved 17 lives and aided 443 people.'
The new Shannon Roy Barker VI will be officially named at a special naming ceremony and service of dedication at the lifeboat station later this year.
Members of the public can see aboard the new all-weather lifeboat at our annual lifeboat station Open Day on Saturday 26 July 2025 from 11am - 4pm.
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,700 lives.
