New lifeboat arrives on Broads

Lifesaving volunteers on the Broads have received their new lifeboat in time for the busy summer season.The new �31,000 lifeboat, called the Jean Ryall, arrived at the South Broads lifeboat station in Oulton Broad, near Lowestoft, on Sunday to replace the 12-year-old vessel, Lord Kitchener.

Lifesaving volunteers on the Broads have received their new lifeboat in time for the busy summer season.

The new �31,000 lifeboat, called the Jean Ryall, arrived at the South Broads lifeboat station in Oulton Broad, near Lowestoft, on Sunday to replace the 12-year-old vessel, Lord Kitchener.

The Jean Ryall is powered by a 50hp outboard motor, making it more responsive and able to tow larger vessels and reach emergencies faster and further from the station within the lifeboat's 100-square-mile patch.

Keith Wood, lifeboat operations manager, 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.”

As well as providing fast transport for the volunteer crew, the new lifeboat has a first-aid kit, oxygen, VHF radio, GPS and an anchor locker.

It was paid for by a bequest and is due to be named in a ceremony in Oulton Broad later in the year.