RNLI picks Ineos Grenadier for search and rescue operations

Ineos Automotive has become an official partner of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), agreeing to supply its Grenadier Station Wagons over the next five years to the search and rescue charity, which will be deployed at locations around Ireland and the UK.

As well as undertaking regular duties at RNLI lifeboat stations, the Grenadier’s main role will be to position, launch and recover the RNLI’s D-class lifeboat at selected stations.

Highly manoeuvrable and able to operate close to shore, the inflatable D-Class has for the past 60 years been the charity’s workhorse, saving over 30,000 lives and aiding over 160,000 people.

It comes into its own for searches and rescues in the surf, shallow water and confined locations, often close to cliffs, among rocks and even inside caves.

After intensive rounds of assessing the suitability of a number of 4X4 vehicles, the RNLI chose the Grenadier for its best-in-class combination of off-road and on-road driving performance, and the robustness and durability to safely withstand the rigours of the RNLI’s activities.

Lynn Calder, CEO, Ineos Automotive, said: “We’re very proud to support the RNLI, an incredible charity that performs round-the-clock life-saving work in often very difficult conditions.

“Its volunteers rely on vehicles every day, both boats and cars, so this is a powerful endorsement of the Grenadier that it’s able to meet the rigorous standards required for such vital frontline work.”