Peel’s new £2.2m lifeboat will be greeted by a flotilla of RNLI vessels when it arrives in the island this weekend.

The Shannon class all-weather lifeboat’s passage from Poole in Dorset was delayed until Thursday.

But she is due to sail into Peel bay as scheduled at 13.35hrs on Sunday - the time reflecting the boat’s unique call number 13-35.

Her arrival is being billed by the RNLI as a ’significant event in Manx maritime history’.

Depending on weather conditions, the Peel crew plan to make overnight stops at other RNLI stations at Newlyn, Kilmore Quay and Portaferry.

On Sunday the Shannon will rendezvous with Peel’s former lifeboat Ruby Clery as well as lifeboats from Port St Mary and Port Erin at about 12.30pm somewhere around Contrary Head, behind Peel Castle.

The flotilla led by Ruby Clery will then head into Peel Bay, arriving at 1.35pm.

There will be a short display to demonstrate the Shannon’s capabilities before the new lifeboat is made available for inspection either alongside the breakwater or in the marina. A formal naming ceremony is scheduled to take place on Saturday, June 27.

Work to extend the lifeboat station to accommodate the new lifeboat has yet to be completed.

An RNLI spokesman said: ’We are expecting the boathouse and slipway to be completed in time for our formal naming ceremony on June 27.

’Until then, the lifeboat will be kept either alongside the breakwater or in the marina, subject to training requirements and weather/tide conditions.’