Ceremony held as new Portree lifeboat launched for first time

A new £2.8m lifeboat destined for Portree lifeboat station in Skye has been launched for the first time.

The Shannon class craft, which has been named RNLB Peter and Mary, received a traditional bell ringing ceremony at the RNLI's all-weather lifeboat centre in Poole in Dorset on Tuesday.

The ceremony, which involved lowering the boat into the water, signified the "end of watch" for the previous lifeboat and the start of the new vessels' role.

Extensive sea trials will be carried out before the new lifeboat is entered into active service and relocated to Skye in coming months.

The current Portree lifeboat, named Stanley Watson Barker, arrived at the station in 1996.

Mechanic John Nicolson and Peter Urquhart attended the ceremony in Poole on behalf of Portree station.

Nicolson said it was an honour to watch the lifeboat being lowered into the water for the first time.

He added: "The current boat has served us very well over the last three decades, but technology and engineering has moved on since then, and all the crew are excited to train onboard the new state of the art Shannon class vessel."

The Shannon class lifeboat is the smallest and lightest form of all-weather lifeboat, and is designed and built entirely in-house by the RNLI.

It is propelled by water jets rather than propellers and can reach a top speed of 25 knots.

The upgrade is being delivered as part of the RNLI 2040 lifeboat fleet strategy.

Other stations in line to receive upgrades this year include Fraserburgh and Wick, with Barra and Buckie due new vessels in 2027.