The public is being given a chance to take up a rare invitation to attend an Open Day at the state-of-the-art RNLI boatyard on the Isle of Wight.
The Inshore Lifeboat Centre (ILC), occupying two acres on the East Cowes bank of the River Medina, is internationally renowned as a centre of excellence for its work involving inflatable and rigid inflatable lifeboats (RIBs).
“We believe many members of the public will find what we do here quite fascinating and make them even more appreciative of the high standards we insist on with the RNLI inshore lifeboats, which account for around 60 percent of all the charity’s rescues,” said the site’s Operations Manager, Glyn Ellis.
Date for your diary
The Open Day will take place on Sunday 6th June (between 10 am and 4 pm).
Although there have been guided tours for visitors from time to time, this will be only the second Open Day since the centre was established in 1962, and the first for 13 years.
Said Glyn, “We kept getting asked to have another proper Open Day, but organising such an event takes a lot of effort, and we have always been so busy.”
Helping to persuade him and colleagues the time was ripe to open the gates to the public once more was the current Bembridge lifeboat appeal. Although admission to the Open Day will be free, the appeal will benefit from any funds raised at the event.
“I am pleased to say that half the 90 on-site employees have agreed to work on that Sunday, so there should be some semblance of what goes on during week-days as well as people to conduct the site tours. The attention to detail by our boatbuilders, fitters and ‘solutionists’ is regarded as a vital element in the charity’s role of saving lives at sea.”
Official ceremony at 2pm
Other attractions during the day will be an official ceremony at 2pm to name a newly-built boat, live music, children’s activities with prizes, a possible flyover by the HM Coastguard helicopter, and a photo opportunity on a lifeboat.
There will also be on-site refreshments and an RNLI shop, and RNLI volunteers will also be much in evidence including some from Bembridge Lifeboat. “We are endeavouring to make it a good day out for the entire family,” said Glyn.
Behind the scenes
Altogether this purpose-built East Cowes manufacturing facility constructs up to 60 percent of the RNLI’s total lifeboat fleet, as well as boats for the Police, HM Coastguards, and lifeboat services in Holland, the Virgin Islands, and Iceland.
In addition to building 50 boats a year, the centre also carries out research and development and boat-maintenance, and is ready at a moment’s notice to supply relief boats as and when required by stations.
Guided tours taking place throughout the day will include a visit to a new building producing the Alantic 75 and 85 RIBs. The building incorporates a dedicated laminating shop, spray booth, machine shop and welding bay.
The Inshore Lifeboat Centre is located at the southern end of Clarence Road, by the junction with Minerva Road.
