At 15:51 Saturday 2nd June Girvan Lifeboat was requested to launch by UK Coastguard Operations Centre at Belfast.
The lifeboats volunteer crew were paged, and on arrival at station were informed of a motor cruiser that had engine failure just outside the harbour.
Girvan's new Shannon Class all-weather lifeboat 13-23 'Elizabeth and Gertrude Allan' was launched and made best speed to the stricken vessel, where the situation was assessed by our crew.
The casualty vessel was attached to the lifeboat and brought under tow to the harbour, where she was safely berthed by the crew.
With the casualty vessel securely berthed and the occupants safe and in no danger, the lifeboat then returned to her own mooring and was made ready for the next service call.
This was the 1st callout for the new £2.1 million Shannon Class lifeboat which was officially named on the 10th of May after formally going on service on 20th April 2018.
Shannon class lifeboats are built in-house by the RNLI, the £2.1 million cost of Girvan’s new lifeboat has been funded by the John & Elizabeth Allan Memorial Trust.
The Shannon class is the first of the RNLI’s all-weather lifeboats to be powered by water-jets rather than traditional propellers, making it the most agile and manoeuvrable lifeboat in the charity’s fleet.
The John & Elizabeth Allan Memorial Trust was set up in 1998 by Professor James Allan in memory of his parents. The trust has been able to fully fund two Shannon class all-weather lifeboats and two Atlantic 85 class inshore lifeboats and continues to support the RNLI.
Professor Allan decided to name this lifeboat, RNLB Elizabeth & Gertrude Allan, after his sisters, who have also since passed away.