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New Troon lifeboat RNLB Roy Barker VI launches on first service call

Lifeboats News Release

The first operational tasking for our new RNLI Shannon class all-weather lifeboat came at 10.43pm on Thursday 10 July 2025 after Belfast Coastguard were notified about a missing sea kayaker off the coast of Ayr.

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Troon RNLI lifeboat Shannon class RNLB Roy Barker VI
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With pagers activated, the volunteers made their way to the lifeboat station launching RNLB Roy Barker VI to take part in a search involving Ayr and Ardrossan Coastguard Rescue Teams.

In fading light, the lifeboat headed south to commence a search, approximately a mile offshore, a casualty was located in the water and recovered onto the lifeboat.

Immediate casualty care was undertaken by the crew as the lifeboat headed into Ayr harbour where the casualty was transferred to the care of the Ambulance service and Coastguard Teams.

After treatment in the ambulance the casualty was taken home and discharged from care.

With this news the lifeboat was able to return to station, where it was made ready for service with the assistance of the shore crew.

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.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.

About the author

Andrew Limond
Lifeboat Press Officer, Troon Lifeboat Station

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