Stonehaven RNLI celebrates 60 years of Inshore Lifeboats
Introduced in 1963, the inshore lifeboat continues to be an invaluable asset in the Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s (RNLI) fleet as new figures show the charity’s Inshore lifeboats have saved 30,778* lives across 60 years.
The inshore lifeboat has enabled the charity’s volunteer crews to carry out their lifesaving work closer to shore, in areas inaccessible to other lifeboats in the fleet. Designed to be quick and manoeuvrable, inshore lifeboats can operate in shallower water, near cliffs and rocks meaning crews can get as close as possible to those in trouble.
An RNLI station was re-established at Stonehaven in 2013 and has had their Atlantic 75 boats and now Atlantic 85 the Jamie Hunter saving lives at sea ever since. They have gone on to launch 99 times, saving one life and aiding 65 people.
Andy Martin, Volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager at Stonehaven RNLI, said:
‘Stonehaven RNLI and our Atlantic 85 Jamie Hunter have enabled our volunteer crew to reach areas close to shore, cliffs and rocks, as well as further out, to rescue people in trouble. These fast and highly manoeuvrable lifesaving craft answered the need for a quicker and more agile response to rescues in areas of water that were more challenging to the larger and slower all-weather lifeboats.
‘The Jamie Hunter is a part of our community and suits the demands of the rescues we attend, with its unique features and capabilities making a huge difference to the efficiency and effectiveness of our 24/7 search and rescue service. It has aided many people in difficult situations, whether that’s people being cut off by the tide, boats in trouble or water users in need of our help.
'The Atlantic 85 lifeboat is a very capable lifeboat to work with. Whether you’re heading to the scene of an incident, conducting a careful search or carrying out the actual rescue, she’s got all the power and kit you could want.’
Notes to editors
· Stonehaven lifeboat station has been operating since 2014. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/stonehaven-lifeboat-station
RNLI media contacts
Anna Carlton, Lifeboat Press Officer, [email protected]
Natasha Bennett, RNLI Regional Media Officer for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]
Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Media Manager for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]
RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 142,700 lives.
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