Homecoming for Caister new £1.6m Medina-class lifeboat

Caister Lifeboat's new £1.6m Medina-class vessel has come home after a three-year transformation from dream to reality.

The crew sailed the boat for seven hours on Sunday, as it made its way from manufacturers Diverse Marine on the Isle of Wight back to Caister.

Caister Lifeboat's Guy Gibson and Paul Garrod onboard the service's new £1.6m vessel. (Image: Denise Bradley)The bespoke vessel - which is yet to be officially named - is the latest addition to the service's lifesaving arsenal. It now joins its custom-made trailer and tractor in a £2.5m bid to 'keep the boat afloat' for another two decades.

Coxswain Guy Gibson said it was a proud moment to see the vessel land on familiar shores.

"It's a relief to see it all come home after three years of hard work.

"We took the boat out last night for the first round of exercises, and everyone was very impressed. 

"We have nothing but gratitude to all our crew, volunteers and of course, everyone who contributed to the fundraiser."

CUSTOM MADE: The new Medina-class boat is joined by a new bespoke trailer and a marinised tractor. (Image: Denise Bradley)Over the next month, the crew will be engaged in intensive training to make sure they are familiar with the new boat's capabilities and to work through any teething issues before coming into service. The lifeboat's current boat - the Bernard Matthews II - will be retired later this year after 21 years of service.

The new 45-foot-long vessel is joined by the trailer made by Yarmouth firm Seatrax, and its tractor which was marinised in North Walsham.

Alterations have also been carried out at Caister Lifeboat Station. The new tractor waits outside the door. (Image: Denise Bradley)Lifeboat chairman Paul Garrod said: "We could have gone to the Netherlands for the boat, but we decided it was very important to keep it British and to keep it as local as possible. 

"It's great to see the trailer and tractor were both made by Norfolk firms."

FLASHBACK: The new boat's capsize trial was a success in 2023. (Image: Caister Lifeboat)Mr Garrod added that he, the coxswain and the crew were "merely custodians of the Lifeboat".

"We aimed to ensure the service can thrive for the next 20 years," he said. 

"This is our legacy."

The Medina-class vessel inside Caister Lifeboat Station. (Image: Caister Lifeboat)The lifeboat service has also carried out extensive improvements to its facilities, including widening the slipway and adding a new public cafe with a veranda, which is due to open in time for summer.