CARDIGAN volunteer lifeboat crew are busy getting to grips with their new Atlantic 85 lifeboat, which arrived at the station earlier this week.

The Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat, to be named Albatross, will replace the station’s current Atlantic 75 lifeboat Tanni Grey which has been saving lives around the Cardigan coast since 1999. During her time at Cardigan, Tanni Grey lifeboat launched 334 times and rescued 272 people – 34 of those were considered as lives saved.

The new £214,000 lifeboat has been generously funded by Miss Sheila Margaret Foster, an inland supporter of the charity who lives in York.

The Atlantic 85 is the most technologically advanced inshore lifeboat and was first introduced into the RNLI fleet in 2005. It is the first inshore lifeboat to have radar, which means it can operate more effectively in reduced visibility. It is also faster and bigger than its predecessor, with room for four crew members as well as more space for casualties.

Cliff Griffiths, Cardigan Volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager said:

‘We’ve all been looking forward to the arrival of the new Atlantic 85 lifeboat at Cardigan for months, but now that she’s here there is a lot of work and training to be done to familiarise ourselves with the new lifeboat. The Atlantic 85 lifeboat is a wonderful piece of kit, and on behalf of Cardigan RNLI lifeboat crew I would like to thank Miss Foster for the generous donation which will help the volunteers continue to save lives at sea.’

Cardigan RNLI volunteers are joined by RNLI staff as they take part in intense training throughout the week to familiarise themselves with their new lifeboat."