Trearddur Bay station launching inshore vessel

Prince William and Kate Middleton will be guests of honour at a naming ceremony for a new RNLI lifeboat in Anglesey on February 24.

The Royal couple will meet the charity’s volunteers and name the new Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat, Hereford Endeavour, at Trearddur Bay Lifeboat Station.

Aubrey Diggle, Trearddur Bay lifeboat operations manager, said: ‘It’s an honour to have Prince William and Miss Middleton at our naming ceremony.

‘Naming a new lifeboat is always a special occasion for the charity where we can thank our supporters and fundraisers.

‘Having the royal couple there will make the day even more memorable for the whole community.’

The Atlantic 85 (pictured) is the most advanced inshore lifeboat produced by the RNLI and the crew will demonstrate some of its capabilities to the Royal party.

It can reach up to 35 knots in speed and carry more casualties than its predescessor. It has a radar system, radio-direction-finding equipment and a sophisticated chart plotter to aid search-and-rescue operations, particularly in low visibility.

Christopher Pritchard, senior helmsman, said: ‘Having Prince William and Miss Middleton name our new lifeboat is especially significant to us.

‘As Prince William is a pilot with the RAF Search and Rescue Force just down the road at RAF Valley, we also welcome him as a colleague who works with us to save lives at sea.’

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