The Keith Anderson was ordered to replace the Waveney-class RNLB Louis Marchesi of Round Table (ON 1045) at Newhaven which had served at the station for eight years.

The Arun-class was considered to be suitable for this stations mooring facilities on the River Ouse which runs through the Port of Newhaven.

By the time of this ceremony the lifeboat had already been launched to service on 33 occasions and had been accredited with saving the lives of four people.

Between 2003 and 2006 the Keith Anderson was placed in storage at the Poole Depot until a deal was negotiated by the RNLI to send three Arun-class lifeboat to China[6] to join the China Ministry of Transport Rescue and Salvage organisation.

Once there the China Rescue & Salvage Bureau placed her on station at the city of Dalian, a seaport in the south of Liaoning province.