D-Class Lifeboat - the 'Christopher Taylor'

The vessel was built in 2016 by the RNLI at the Inshore Lifeboat Center in Cowes, Isle of Wight, and replaces the old ILB which was nearly 30 years old and had served Southport since 2005.

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Built to the same specification as the RNLI D-class lifeboat, Southport ILB is a versatile vessel used to cover the inshore waters around Southport Pier, the Marine Lake and acts as a back up to Southport Lifeboat.

Paid for in half by a grant from the Department of Transport’s Inshore and Inland Rescue Boat Grant Scheme, the remaining funds came from public donations.

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The Trustees decided to name the Lifeboat “Christopher Taylor” after a 21 year old Southport man who sadly lost his life in the River Avon, Bath, in January 2014.

Since Christopher’s passing, his mother, Jill, and father, Mike, have continued to raise funds to help the Southport Offshore Rescue Trust continue to save lives at sea.