Lough Swilly Lifeboat Station has welcomed its new vessel – the Shannon class Derek Bullivant, named after the generous supporter
who helped fund it. Derek Bullivant started one of the biggest aluminium recycling companies in the UK and wanted his success to benefit lifesaving charities, which led him to provide a legacy to the RNLI. The new lifeboat was also funded by a legacy from Valerie Walker of Portsmouth. A plaque remembering her kindness has taken pride of place in the Donegal-based station. The lifeboat was officially named by former Arklow lifeboat volunteer Jimmy Tyrell. It was Jimmy who asked the RNLI to name a class of lifeboat after an Irish river, in recognition of the role Irish volunteers have played in the charity’s lifesaving history. Until the Shannon class, the all-weather lifeboat classes were each named after UK rivers. The Shannon is propelled by waterjets instead of traditional propellers, making it the most agile and manoeuvrable all-weather lifeboat in the fleet. Waterjets allow the vessel to operate in shallow waters and to be intentionally beached. The lifeboat has a top speed of 25 knots and a range of 250 nautical miles.