A new Shannon class lifeboat arrived at Larne RNLI station on February 15. The £2.7 million vessel replaced the Trent class lifeboat Dr John McSparran, which operated off the Larne coast for 25 years.

Volunteer crews trained on the boat during a water session on March 8. They practiced anchoring, fire drills, casualty care using a stretcher, and navigation of the layout.

Training began months earlier to support the shift from Trent to Shannon class. Further sessions will occur in Larne before the lifeboat enters search and rescue service.

The lifeboat received most of its funding from donor Michael Cameron through the Cameron Family Charitable Foundation. A naming ceremony later this year will honour his wife Machiko Nancy, who died in September 2020.

Larne RNLI reported that the training prepares crews to respond to emergencies at sea.

The station also seeks help to find its missing training dummy named Fred. A social media post on March 3 provided contact details for its return.