An Isle of Wight independent lifeboat station has secured another ten years of saving lives, with the arrival of its new lifeboat, imported from Scotland.

Built in 2006, the Atlantic 85-class lifeboat ‘Lydia MacDonald’ spent 16 years saving lives at sea in Macduff, Aberdeenshire, before being replaced in 2022.

The vessel was offered to Freshwater Independent Lifeboat (FILB) to purchase as part of the RNLI asset disposal program.

The purchase also included a full refit – which took place during autumn 2023.

Isle of Wight County Press: The Freshwater Independent Lifeboat team with the new A85 lifeboatThe Freshwater Independent Lifeboat team with the new A85 lifeboat (Image: Freshwater Independent Lifeboat)

Given a new lease of life by the RNLI Inshore Lifeboat Centre in East Cowes, Lydia MacDonald has received a full re-stray, re-wire and two new engines.

This will enable FILB to continue its mission of saving lives at sea for at least the next ten years.

Lifeboat crews hope to have the vessel in operation by the end of spring 2024.

An official launch date will be announced soon.

Isle of Wight County Press: The new A85 lifeboat arriving at the Freshwater Independent Lifeboat StationThe new A85 lifeboat arriving at the Freshwater Independent Lifeboat Station (Image: Freshwater Independent Lifeboat)