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The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) on the Isle of Wight in the UK has bought a new rough terrain crane for boat handling and general yard duties.

The 30 tonne capacity Grove RT530E, which replaces an old industrial crane, is part of the RNLI's £ 2 million (US$ 3 million) investment at the Inshore Lifeboat Centre at East Cowes.

The East Cowes centre is where the entire UK and the Republic of Ireland fleet of 320 inshore lifeboats are manufactured, maintained, repaired, and overhauled. Largest of the outboard motorpowered inflatable rigid lifeboats is the new third generation Atlantic 85, which weighs 2 tonnes.