Celebrations have been taking place this week in recognition of 150 years of lifesaving at Torbay and naming ceremony for the new D class inshore lifeboat.

RNLI operate a Severn Class All-weather Lifeboat from the Torbay Lifeboat Station which is located in Brixham, Devon, on the south coast of the UK. Until this summer, the vessel had been moored alongside an anchored pontoon, but this needed to be upgraded with reduced motions in order to meet the latest RNLI operation requirements.

The solution developed by Beckett Rankine working with RNLI was to install a replacement pontoon, supported by two steel piles at a new orientation with a further two steel piles for mooring the lifeboat fore and aft. The access brow was repainted and re-installed with modifications to the bearings while the bankseat was also raised 700mm from the existing level. Other works included improvements to the RNLI retail kiosk and the provision of improved pavement ramps and steps.

RNLI required full operational access to both the All-weather and Inshore Lifeboats throughout the duration of the works.