A new search and rescue (SAR) boat will soon enter service with the UK's Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station at Portree on the Isle of Skye.
Named Peter and Mary, the all-weather SAR boat was designed and built entirely in-house by the RNLI. The boat has self-righting ability while her waterjet propulsion delivers a top speed of 25 knots, making her as fast as the Portree RNLI station's current SAR boat Stanley Watson Barker, which has been in service since 1996.
The new boat has begun undergoing extensive sea trials to prepare her for active service. The volunteer crew of Portree RNLI are already underway with the necessary training to enable them to operate the vessel.
Like other SAR boats in her class, Peter and Mary has a length of 13.6 metres, a beam of 4.54 metres, a draught of only one metre, a displacement of 17 tons, and space for six crewmembers.
The boat retains her self-righting ability even when carrying 23 rescued accident survivors in addition to her crew.
The new boat was acquired for approximately £2.8 million (US$3.8 million).
