15 April 2023, Berwick upon Tweed, Northumberland Crew and support crew at Berwick Lifeboat Station for the final departure of RNLB Joy and Charles Beeby after 30 years service at the station. Last year the RNLI confirmed that an Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat would operate permanently at Berwick-upon-Tweed, replacing the all-weather lifeboat when it came to the end of its operational life.
15 April 2023, Berwick upon Tweed, Northumberland RNLB Joy and Charles Beeby departed Berwick upon Tweed for the final time this morning after 30 years service. Last year the charity confirmed that an Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat would operate permanently at Berwick-upon-Tweed, replacing the all-weather lifeboat when it came to the end of its operational life.* The Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat, which has been extensively trialled at the station, has proved it is the right lifesaving vessel for the station. It will operate alongside Berwick’s smaller D-class inshore lifeboat.* Kevin Knox, RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager at Berwick said: ‘Naturally we’ll be very sad to say goodbye to our all-weather lifeboat Joy and Charles Beeby. She has served us proudly for 30 years, saving lives at sea and bringing loved ones back to their families. ‘It will be the end of an era for the lifeboat station and its volunteers but as our all-weather lifeboat has reached the end of its operational life, we’re ready to start the next chapter of lifesaving in the town. ‘I’d like to offer heartfelt thanks and appreciation to our crew for their fantastic level of commitment and training that they have put in to familiarise themselves with the Atlantic 85 lifeboat. They have worked tirelessly to gain the necessary operational training on the new lifeboat and this is to be applauded.’ Joe Mitchell, RNLI Area Lifesaving Manager, said: ‘It will be a very poignant day when we wave goodbye to Berwick RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat and everyone will be saddened to say farewell. ‘As she has reached the end of her operational life and we look to the future, the A85 will amount to an improvement upon our lifesaving capability in the area. With a top speed of 35 knots, it is much faster than both the Mersey and the Shannon Class all-weather lifeboats; it can reach casualties more quickly and it also has a better shallow-water capability.
Size: 5273px × 3549px
Location: Berwick upon Tweed, Northumberland, England, UK
Photo credit: © Jim Gibson / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 2023, beeby, berwick, charles, coast, crew, east, joy, lifeboat, north, rescue, retirement, river, rnlb, rnli, sar, sea, search, support, tweed
