The United Kingdom has donated an inshore lifeboat to Anguilla in a move to strengthen the island’s search and rescue capabilities.
The 28-foot Atlantic 85-class vessel and trailer were provided through the UK Integrated Security Fund, designed to address the UK’s security challenges both domestically and internationally.
The former Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) rescue boat will be shared by the Royal Anguilla Police Force and the Anguilla Fire and Rescue Service, which is responsible for search and rescue.
The RNLI has also agreed to provide intensive boat handling and maintenance training, a statement from the Governor’s Office said on 3 April. This will take place in the Turks and Caicos Islands in May.
The Governor’s Office explained that the rigid inflatable vessel will assist Anguilla in meeting search and rescue needs and international obligations.
These include the Convention on International Civil Aviation, the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue, and the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).
Governor Julia Crouch visited the vessel, which is stored at Clayton J Lloyd International Airport, this week.
In an interview on Klass FM on Tuesday, 8 April, she said: “It’s a pretty high tech boat… it’s very good for in coastal waters because it’s designed to get in close.
“It will be used for search and rescue, but the police will also have access where it’s relevant to particular operations that they’re doing.
“And it’s useful for the airport, as well, to meet our safety obligations – obviously, the airport is very close to the sea, as everything is.
“So if there were – hopefully this doesn’t happen – but if there were to be an air crash with people in the sea, it’d be very useful for that. It can deploy very fast from the airport.”
