Baltimore in west Cork, with a proud tradition of life-saving at sea, is this week looking forward to a new era after officially taking possession of the latest addition to the RNLI’s fleet, a €3 million Tamar class lifeboat that will enhance its capacity to effect rescues.
The RNLB Alan Massey, with a top speed of 25 knots and a range of 250 miles, is the latest in a long line of lifeboats to be based at Baltimore near Skibbereen.
RNLI operations director Michael Vlasto said, “A lifeboat is only as good as her crew and Baltimore has a very dedicated and professional team, both ashore and afloat, whose pride in this station and their lifeboat is so obvious for all to see.
“Baltimore’s lifeboats have a proud history of life-saving dating back to 1919, and since then has launched over 700 times and rescued 662 people. Ten medals have been awarded, seven silver and three bronze, the last being in 1992 to current cox Kieran Cotter.”
Mr Vlasto paid tribute to generous donors, including Dorothy May Massey, whose substantial legacy helped fund the new boat named after her brother, Alan, as well as Henry and Joan Jermyn, John Ward and John Heath, all of whom left bequests to the RNLI.
The late Ms May’s close friend Sue Windsor travelled with her husband, Tony, from the UK for the naming ceremony at the weekend, and told of how pleased her late friend and her brother, who were keen sailors, would have been for the boat to be based in Baltimore.
“She knew, as I do, that two things are needed to keep the work of the lifeboat service going – money, firstly, but just as important, if not more so, a supply of brave, dedicated sailing men and women to make use of the boat,” said Ms Windsor yesterday.
