Rosslare lifeboat on way home after refit in the UK

THE ROSSLARE lifeboat is on its way back from the UK following a major refit carried out in an Isle of Wight boatyard.

The 12-year-old ‘Donald and Barbara Broadhead’ left the Penlee lifeboat station in Newlynn, Cornwall, yesterday (Monday) following the €500,000 refit which involved fitting two brand new engines.

In 2001, the previous Rosslare Harbour Lifeboat ‘St Brendan’ was seriously damaged when it was hit by the 31,500 tonne ferry Koningen Beatrix which demolished the lifeboat pen. Such was the impact that the Stena ferry propelled the St Brendan out of the end of the pen.

The ‘Donald and Barbara Broadhead’ was brought into service at Rosslare Harbour in 2004.