THE RNLI has launched an appeal to raise £200,000 towards Swanage’s new lifeboat station.

Set to open in 2015 – in time for the arrival of the charity’s £1.5 million Shannon class lifeboat – the station will be developed at the current boathouse site in Peveril Point Road.

On Friday, as a preview to the appeal launch, a new RNLI Shannon class vessel was put through her paces alongside the town’s current all-weather Mersey class boat, Robert Charles Brown.

With its advanced water jet propulsion system, the new Shannon is 50 per cent faster and more manoeuvrable than the Robert Charles Brown, which after 21-years service is coming to the end of its operational life.

A substantial legacy already provides a large contribution towards the station’s costs, but another £200,000 needs to be raised over the next two years. On Saturday this appeal was officially launched.

RNLI divisional operations manager Richard Weeks explained: “Unfortunately the dimensions of the current lifeboat station mean it will not be fit for purpose when the new Shannon class lifeboat arrives.

“We are currently working with our architect and structural engineers to design a state-of-the-art facility, which is also sensitive to the environment, its locality and the community.”

Building work, subject to planning permission, is due to start in 2014.

Swanage RNLI lifeboat operations manager Neil Hardy said: “Funding for the Shannon has been met, with two legacies providing the majority of funding required.

“We just need to help raise the funds needed for the new lifeboat station in which she will be housed.

“And this project begins in earnest right now as we launch this appeal and head into the 2013 summer season at Swanage.”