RNLI plans to build its own all weather boats at Poole

The Chief Executive of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, Paul Boissier, during a visit to Aith as part of his first official visit to Scotland (15-17 June 2010). Mr Boissier and wife Susan joined the local lifeboat crew aboard for a training exercise.

The RNLI has announced plans that will save £3.7 million a year, by building and maintaining their feet of all weather boats at its Poole HQ. Planing permission has been applied for in the Borough of Poole, for a workshop on RNLI land in Holes Bay. The £11.2 million project will create up to 90 new jobs, and will pay for itself within 10 years. It is hoped that once planning is granted work will start on the site, next to the Lifeboat College, in 2013.

The RNLI already manufactures their own inshore lifeboats a their Isle of Wight facility, as well as designing the all weather lifeboats and producing the hulls. The new facility will allow then to complete all the fitting out work and engineering, saving £3.7 million a year in contractors fees.

The project was able to go ahead after sufficient efficiency savings were made to existing RNLI operations. It will allow the RNLI to make the best use of the donations it receive, and has received approval from the RNLI trustees. The cost of building the new facility will be split, with £6.2 million coming from the RNLI's efficiency savings, and a further £5 million through fundraising through trusts and corporate partnerships.

It is hoped that by the spring of 2014 the new facility will be in operation overhauling and refitting existing boats, with the hull and deck moulding operations moving from RNLI SAR Composites at Lymington in 2019. Staff at the Lymington site will be offered new jobs at the  new facility, and the existing RNLI apprentice scheme will be extended.

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