Peel lifeboat has been rocked by the resignation of three volunteers.

And crew shortages led to the town’s main lifeboat being temporarily out of action for a number of days.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution revealed that the resignations followed disagreement over the running of the lifeboat station.

However, the station continues to have 30 operational volunteers including 20 lifeboat crew.

Last week, Peel said goodbye to its all-weather lifeboat the Ruby Clery for good.

She left for her new home in Ramsey, ahead of a new larger Shannon-class boat being delivered to Peel.

A spokesman for the RNLI said: ’Three volunteers at Peel RNLI have recently tendered their resignation.

’This follows a disagreement between parties involved with the operational running of the lifeboat station locally.

’The RNLI had been working with the parties concerned, through its problem-solving channels and mediation, to try to resolve the issue.

’It is always regrettable when volunteers make this decision and we lose valuable experience.’

She said that ’due to a combination of factors recently including crew availability’, the lifeboat Ruby Clery has been temporarily off-service on two occasions during October, for 10 hours on both days, and once in November for a day.

’This is not unusual for lifeboat stations due to factors such as crew availability, crew illness, or planned maintenance,’ she said.

She insisted that on the occasions that the lifeboat was off-service, lifesaving cover was provided by the RNLI’s flanking stations at Port St Mary and Port Erin as well as the UK and Isle of Man Coastguard.

When a fishing boat recently sank off the Calf Sound, the UK Coastguard requested Port St Mary and Port Erin lifeboats to respond.

The crew shortages have not affected the relief lifeboat.

The spokesman added: ’We are very grateful to our volunteer crew at Peel RNLI for their continued commitment to the charity and for the skills they bring to providing a lifesaving service to their community.

’Peel RNLI has a dedicated team and the RNLI will continue to work closely with them to ensure the continued, safe and effective operation of the lifeboat service in the Isle of Man.’

Building work is progressing on the lifeboat station so it is ready to accept the new Shannon-class boat and as part of this, the slipway is also undergoing modification.

This has meant the slipway has not being available to launch and recover the Mersey-class Ruby Clery, which has hastened her departure to Ramsey.

The new Shannon class boat is expected to come into service in spring 2020.

Until then, the crew will be using the relief boat, the Mary Margaret, which is moored alongside the port’s breakwater.