Arklow’s Former Lifeboat Finds New Home

A familiar lifeboat with strong ties to Arklow is set to begin a new chapter across the Irish Sea. From September, the Trent-class lifeboat ‘Ger Tigchelaar’, formerly stationed at Arklow RNLI, will officially become part of the Holyhead RNLI fleet.

The vessel, which has been meticulously maintained during her time in Arklow, is currently undergoing preparatory work at Holyhead Boatyard before joining her new station.

Once complete, she will proudly bear the ‘Holyhead Lifeboat’ name on her stern and begin service with her new volunteer crew.

For the past year, Holyhead RNLI has been operating with another Trent-class vessel, the ‘Frederick Storey Cockburn’, as a relief lifeboat. The arrival of the ‘Ger Tigchelaar’ marks a more permanent addition to their rescue fleet.

Meanwhile, Holyhead’s previous all-weather lifeboat, the Severn-class ‘Christopher Pearce’, has been transferred to RNLI headquarters in Poole, where it will join the organisation’s relief fleet.The station’s D-class inshore lifeboat ‘Mary and Archie Hooper’ remains in active service and will continue to support the crew’s lifesaving missions.

The transition has been met with enthusiasm by the Holyhead team, who expressed their commitment to caring for the vessel with the same dedication shown by Arklow RNLI.

As the ‘Ger Tigchelaar’ prepares to enter her next phase of service, Arklow’s legacy continues to live on in the vital lifesaving work carried out by RNLI volunteers across the UK and Ireland.