A new lifeboat is coming for a two-year trail, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has announced.

The RNLI has revealed that a B class inshore lifeboat will join the fleet at Dartmouth for a two year trial.

The Dart lifeboat station currently has a single engined smaller D class inshore lifeboat, but following a review at the beginning of 2017, it has been decided that the station will receive the larger twin engined lifeboat on trial to test its suitability for the sea.

The B class lifeboat is the fastest in the fleet, with a top speed of 35 knots. It is designed as a very capable fast response craft able to operate in more challenging sea conditions and has a greater night capability than the smaller D class.

The current D class lifeboat used by Dart RNLI often operates at night, in very challenging and diverse waters with strong wind and tide conditions.

Thus the addition of the faster and larger B class lifeboat will benefit the station in being able to meet the demand of the rescues the team face.

Simon Crayfourd, Area Lifesaving Manager, says: “This is an important change for the RNLI in Dart as we continue to improve the lifeboat service around the coast.

“The capability and standards of our lifeboats are constantly developing and improving; resulting in safer, more advanced lifeboats for our volunteer crews.

“The review has indicated a potential need for a B class lifeboat stationed at Dartmouth based on the number and type of incidents that the station has responded to over the last five years. The current lifeboat is sometimes operating close to the limit of its capability so the larger lifeboat increases the effectiveness of our response to a casualty.”

The review considered the number and types of rescues carried out by each lifeboat, changing trends and water use within the area, search and rescue demands, costs, as well as future needs.

As part of this review, both Dart and neighbouring Torbay and Salcombe lifeboat stations were involved in feeding into the review to help build an all-round picture for consideration.

The trial will begin later this year, with a review taking place after two years to look at the success of the trial and whether a B class lifeboat would be permanently stationed at Dart lifeboat station.