The RNLI has announced that the dedication of Haydn Miller - the first Tamar class lifeboat to go on service at an RNLI lifeboat station, will take place in Tenby on June 25. The day will also mark the official opening of the newly-built lifeboat house. RNLI council member Commodore Bob Hastie will officially open the £5.84million lifeboat station at 4.30 pm before Howard Richings, RNLI Estates Manager Corporate Services, gives a description of the building. Celebrations will then move on to the harbour for the dedication of the £2.5 million state-of-the-art lifeboat, which will be named Haydn Miller in honour of the donor. The RNLI will soon confirm the name of guest who will officially name the new lifeboat. Neil Chaplin, RNLI principal engineer will give guests a description of the lifeboat. Crowds descended on Tenby on March 2 when the volunteer crew brought their new lifeboat home. The station's Tyne class lifeboat RFA Sir Galahad will remain on station until the Tamar is officially placed on service in the very near future. The Tamar, which will replace Tenby's current Tyne class lifeboat Sir Galahad, which has been saving lives off the Pembrokeshire coast since 1986, features state-of-the-art technology to enhance its lifesaving capabilities. Compared to the Tyne class, the Tamar will be bigger - 16 metres as opposed to 14 - and have a faster response time, with a speed of 25, rather than 17 knots. The Tamar has more safety features built in to protect the crew, including a new seat design that will reduce loadings on crew members' spines in rough weather. A new on board computer known as SIMS (Systems and Information Management System) further improves safety because a lot of the lifeboat's functions can now be managed remotely. This means the crew do not have to move around the lifeboat while underway, reducing the risk of accidents. Using SIMS also allows better task sharing between crew members, as the various functions required to operate the lifeboat can be accessed via screens at any of the six crew positions. Phae Comber-Jones, RNLI regional fund-raising manager, said: "The day's celebrations will mark an historic occasion for both the town of Tenby and the Institution. "Preparations for the ceremonies are under way and will be an opportunity for the town to proudly celebrate the arrival of their new state-of-the-art lifeboat. The arrival of the magnificent Haydn Miller signifies the RNLI's commitment to using the very latest technology in order to save lives at sea."
