THE RNLI South Broads Lifeboat station proudly showed off its new state of the art lifeboat, in time for the start of the broads boating season.The �31,000 25 Knot IB1 inshore lifeboat, uses new composite materials to make the vessel a faster and more responsive craft than the 12 year old D-Class “Lord Kitchener” it replace on Sunday.

THE RNLI South Broads Lifeboat station proudly showed off its new state of the art lifeboat, in time for the start of the broads boating season.

The �31,000 25 Knot IB1 inshore lifeboat, uses new composite materials to make the vessel a faster and more responsive craft than the 12 year old D-Class “Lord Kitchener” it replace on Sunday.

Powered by a 50hp outboard the “Jean Ryall” offers more power making it able to successfully tow larger vessels when required and due to increased speed and fuel capacity has the ability to reach casualties faster and further from the station in Oulton Broad.

A composite pod in the forepeak of the vessel houses storage for first aid kit, oxygen, VHF radio, GPS and an anchor locker.

“Jean Ryall” has been paid for by a generous bequest and is due to be named in a ceremony in Oulton Broad later in the year.

Keith Wood, lifeboat operations manager of the station said: “It is with great pleasure that we as a station take delivery of this much awaited new boat, our station has proved since its setting up to be a major facility that all of the emergency services and the public can call upon. This boat will now enable us to continue that service and improve on it allowing us a greater flexibility and coverage than we previously were capable of, we thank those people for there donation that made this possible and hope that they like us take a great pride in knowing it will be used to save lives.”

The station opened in July 2001 and is currently based in temporary accommodation in Caldecott Road, Oulton Broad.