New Lough Swilly RNLI lifeboat Davdot officially named at special ceremony
Saturday 10 October 2026
The new Atlantic 85 class lifeboat Davdot has been officially named at a special ceremony and service of dedication at Lough Swilly RNLI Lifeboat Station this afternoon (Saturday 10 October), marking a significant milestone in the station’s history.
The lifeboat, which has been on service since April, was formally named by donors Richard and Jennifer Kendrick in front of invited guests, volunteers, family members and friends of the station.
The ceremony began with a welcome from Joe Joyce, Lough Swilly RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, who paid special tribute to the donors for their generosity in helping to provide the new lifeboat.
Richard and Jennifer Kendrick then handed the lifeboat into the care of the charity. RNLI Trustee Paddy McLaughlin formally accepted the vessel on behalf of the RNLI before handing it into the care of Lough Swilly Lifeboat Station.
Liam Magee, president of the station, and John McCarter, chair of the Lifeboat Management Group, accepted the lifeboat on behalf of the station and its volunteer crew.
The Service of Dedication was led by Rev Mel Niblock, Mr Michael Roulston and Fr Francis Bradley, who joined the congregation in asking for protection and blessing for the lifeboat and its crew as they undertake the noble purpose of rescuing those in danger at sea.
Music played a special part in the proceedings, with the lifeboat crew performing Phil Coulter’s much-loved lifeboat song, Home from the Sea. They were accompanied by the Trad Lads, who provided the music for the occasion.
The formal naming followed, as Richard and Jennifer Kendrick named the lifeboat Davdot. A bottle of local craft beer from Kinnegar was poured over the side of the vessel to mark the occasion, as the assembled well-wishers looked on.
Speaking after the ceremony, Joe Joyce, Lough Swilly RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, said the arrival and naming of Davdot represented another important chapter in the station’s history.
‘As one of the Launch Authorities, I have the responsibility to authorise the lifeboat’s launch when requested, and to send a message to the crew asking them to get to the station as quickly as possible.
‘We know thanks to the generosity of the donors and the commitment and dedication of our volunteers, that Davdot will help ensure we continue to provide an effective lifesaving service.’
Davdot replaces the Minnie and Ernest George Barry, which served at Lough Swilly for almost 19 years. During that time, the lifeboat launched 265 times, with volunteer crews rescuing 233 people, including five lives saved.
The new Atlantic 85 is one of the fastest lifeboats in the RNLI fleet, capable of reaching speeds of up to 35 knots. Designed to carry four crew members, it is powered by two 115-horsepower engines and is equipped with radar to assist operations in poor visibility, along with VHF direction-finding equipment.
Its manually operated self-righting mechanism, combined with inversion-proofed engines, enables the lifeboat to return to an operational position following a capsize. The vessel can also be beached in an emergency without damage to its engines or steering gear.
Introduced to the RNLI fleet in 2005, the Atlantic 85 carries a comprehensive range of communication and electronic navigation equipment, together with a searchlight, night-vision equipment and flares to support operations in darkness.
Since Lough Swilly RNLI was established almost 40 years ago, its lifeboats have launched more than 1,000 times. Volunteer crews have come to the aid of 895 people, with 42 lives saved.
The importance of that service was brought into sharp focus at the end of today’s celebrations when Lough Swilly RNLI volunteers were requested to launch the station’s all-weather Shannon class lifeboat. The call-out was subsequently confirmed as a false alarm with good intent.
While the naming ceremony marked a proud occasion for the station, the immediate call-out served as a reminder that RNLI volunteers must always be ready to respond when the alarm is raised.
With Davdot now officially named and in service, Lough Swilly RNLI’s volunteer crew can look ahead to continuing their lifesaving work, supported by the generosity of donors and the wider community.
