THE Jersey Lifeboat Association is hoping its all-weather vessel will be able to return to the water later this month following a “challenging” upgrade process.
The Tyne-class steel Sir Max Aitken III has been out of action since late January after embarking on an engine replacement and refurbishment programme.
The charity’s high-speed inshore RIB, Albert Pinel, remains active and has undertaken 16 emergency call outs so far this year.
Among other improvements, the refit of Sir Max included the installation of Baudouin marine engines, manufactured in France and supplied locally.
JLA chairman Paul Richardson said: “Although the process has been challenging and taken much longer than we had envisaged, Sir Max is currently going through the final pre-commissioning and coding mount stiffening works.
“We hope that she will return to the water in the next two weeks after which the commissioning will be undertaken with the technical team from Baudouin.”
Mr Richardson also noted that the charity’s fundraising team had been “extremely busy”, having attended 17 stall day events across the Island so far this year and delivered a bingo night, a quiz night, a race day event and a car wash.
They will be holding another car wash fundraiser between 9am and midday on Sunday 27 September.
The JLA will also be in attendance at the Jersey Charity Exposition at the Royal Jersey Showground, arranged by the Association of Jersey Charities, on Friday 11 September.
“As a completely voluntary local charity, with no paid employees, we rely on the support of the public and businesses of the Island,” Mr Richardson said.
