The operator of the Tyne Tunnels, TT2, has donated a new rescue watercraft to the RNLI to help keep beachgoers safe at one of the busiest beaches in the North East.
A Β£8,400 donation from the Tyne Tunnels Community Fund has funded a state-of-the-art rescue watercraft, named TT2 Safe Passage, which will be based at Roker Beach in Sunderland and used by RNLI lifeguards to respond to incidents in the water.
The new craft β which replaced an older model that had to be taken out of service β is ensuring lifeguards can continue providing a rapid emergency response throughout the busy summer season.
The donation is being celebrated on Friday 31 July 2026, which marks International Lifeguard Appreciation Day, recognising the vital role lifeguards play in preventing incidents and saving lives along the UKβs coastline.
Every year, TT2 safely transports more than 19 million vehicles through the Tyne Tunnels, connecting communities, commuters and visitors across the region. During the summer months, many of those journeys are made by families and visitors heading to the North East coastline.
The partnership reflects a shared commitment to keeping people safe β with TT2 helping people travel safely to the coast and the RNLI helping them to stay safe once they are there.
Across Tyne and Wear, RNLI lifeguards patrol 11 beaches each season, including Roker, Seaburn, Sandhaven, Cullercoats and Tynemouth Longsands. Around 95 per cent of their work focuses on preventing incidents through proactive patrols, public advice and early intervention, although lifeguards still launched 355 times last year in the North East β coming to the aid of 168 people in emergencies at sea.
Laura Warner, fundraising and partnerships lead at the RNLI, said:
βWe are incredibly grateful to TT2 for their generous donation, which has funded a new rescue watercraft for our lifeguard team at Roker Beach.
βThis vital equipment will enhance our ability to respond quickly and effectively to incidents in the water, helping us to keep beachgoers safe throughout the busy summer season. Donations like this have a direct impact on the service we can provide, and we sincerely thank TT2 for their support.β
COO at TT2, Shaun Simmons, said:
βAt TT2, safety is at the heart of everything we do. Every year we help millions of people travel safely across the Tyne and during the summer many of those journeys end at our fantastic coastline.
βWeβre proud that the Tyne Tunnels Community Fund has been able to support the RNLI with the new TT2 Safe Passage rescue watercraft, helping its lifeguards continue the incredible work they do to protect local people and visitors.β
The donation forms part of the Tyne Tunnels Community Fundβs commitment to supporting organisations that make a positive difference across the North East.
