A lifeboat was first stationed here in 1802 by the Aberdeen Shipmasters' Society, taken over by the Abderdeen Harbour Commissioners in 1810. The management of the station was transferred to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1925.[1]
17-24 Bon Accord (ON 1248) in 2017.
The station currently operates a Severn-class All-weather lifeboat, the 17-24 Bon Accord (ON 1248), since 2000, and a D-class (IB1) Inshore lifeboat, the Buoy Woody 85N (D-830), since 2018.[2]
History
In a great storm of January 1800, a considerable number of ships were wrecked off the Aberdeenshire coast.[3] This prompted moves for a lifeboat in Aberdeen. However, public donations failed to be sufficient, and it was Alexander Baxter of Glassel, Lord Rector of Marischal College, who would fund the first lifeboat for the Aberdeen Shipmasters' Society.[4]
The lifeboat was stationed at Footdee, on the north side on the entrance to Aberdeen harbour, at the mouth (or foot) of the River Dee. The first lifeboat house is marked next to the Observatory (Port Entrance Control Tower) at Abercromby Jetty on Thomas Telford's map of 1828.[6] A later one appears on the 1865 map, larger, and nearer to the Pilot Square houses. By 1901, two lifeboat houses were in operation, one at the north corner of North Square, Footdee, and a second boathouse, on the landing jetty at Lower Quay.[7]
In 1923, the RNLI brought a motor-lifeboat to Aberdeen on demonstration. At this time, one of the lifeboats still in use at Aberdeen was 70 years old. After much discussion, the lifeboats and equipment of Aberdeen Harbour Commissioners were handed over to the RNLI on 1 January 1925.[8]
Robert and Ellen Robson (ON 669) at Whitby Lifeboat Museum
A 34-foot Self-righting lifeboat was placed at the No.2 station at North Square, Footdee in 1925, the Robert and Ellen Robson (ON 669). She would later serve at Whitby from 1947, the last Pulling and Sailing lifeboat (one with oars and sail) on service with the RNLI. The boat has been restored, and currently is on display at the RNLI Lifeboat Museum at Whitby.
Between 1924 and 1962, the No.2 station boat was launched on service only seven times, the majority of calls being taken by the larger No.1 station lifeboat. The No.2 station was formally closed on 23 April 1962. After some years unused, and a period with the Royal Naval Auxiliary Service, the building was later demolished.[8]
Back in 1825, a 40-foot Watson-class (P&S) lifeboat was placed temporarily at the No.1 station, the William Roberts (ON 505), but this boat was soon replaced with a motor-powered 60-foot Barnett lifeboat, Emma Constance (ON 693), one of only three of this type and size to enter service with the RNLI. Too large to be housed in a boathouse, from this time, the No.1 station lifeboat would be permanently afloat.[2]
In 2000, the Aberdeen station would receive their sixth 'afloat' lifeboat, the RNLB 17-24 Bon Accord (ON 1248).[2]
Tenby Lifeboat Station is a lifeboat station in Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales that has been situated to the east of the town since 1852, three generations having been built; the original and updates in 1905 and 2005. The station currently houses two lifeboats.
Walmer Lifeboat Station is located on The Strand on Walmer promenade, in the county of Kent.
Great Yarmouth and Gorleston lifeboat station is a RNLI base in Norfolk, England. There were originally two separate stations at Great Yarmouth and Gorleston – two coastal towns either side of the River Yare. These were merged in 1926.
Angle Lifeboat Station is located near the village of Angle, on the southern side of the entrance to the Milford Haven Waterway in Pembrokeshire, Wales.
Torbay Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations at Brixham, Devon in England. Brixham Lifeboat Station was opened in 1866 but since 1924 has been known as 'Torbay'. Since 2005 it has operated a Severn-class all-weather lifeboat (ALB) together with a D-class (IB1) inshore lifeboat (ILB).
Aldeburgh Lifeboat Station is an RNLI station located in the town of Aldeburgh in the English county of Suffolk.
Newhaven Lifeboat Station is an RNLI station located in the town of Newhaven in the English county of East Sussex in the United Kingdom. The original station was established in 1803 and taken over by the RNLI in 1854.
Lowestoft Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) operated lifeboat station in the town of Lowestoft in the English county of Suffolk. The station is located at the mouth of Lowestoft's outer harbour on the South pier. It is one of the oldest lifeboat stations in the United Kingdom, having been established in 1801.
Holyhead Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat station in the coastal town of Holyhead, Anglesey, Wales. It is one of the three oldest lifeboat stations situated on the North Wales coast, a disused building of which houses the Holyhead Maritime Museum.
Swanage Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station located on Peveril Point in the town of Swanage in Dorset, England. It operates two lifeboats, the Shannon-class All-weather lifeboat 13-13 George Thomas Lacy and the D-class (IB1) inshore lifeboat (ILB) Roy Norgrove (D-884).
Barrow Lifeboat Station is located on Roa Island, near the town of Barrow in Furness, formerly part of Lancashire, but now in Cumbria. A lifeboat was first stationed here by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1864.
Thurso Lifeboat Station is located at Scrabster Harbour, in the NE corner of Scotland, near the town of Thurso, Highland, in the historic county of Caithness. A lifeboat was first stationed here by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution in 1860.
Hastings Lifeboat Station is located on The Stade, in the town of Hastings, in East Sussex. A lifeboat was first stationed here in 1835, but after a period of decline, the boat was no longer fit for purpose. A new station was opened by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1858.
Hoylake Lifeboat Station is located on the North Parade promenade in the town of Hoylake, on the Wirral Peninsula, in Merseyside.
Fleetwood Lifeboat Station is located on The Esplanade at the port of Fleetwood, a Lancashire town at the north end of The Fylde, situated at the mouth of the River Wyre.
Fraserburgh Lifeboat Station is located at the harbour town of Fraserburgh, in the NE corner of Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
Wick Lifeboat Station is located at the harbour town and royal burgh of Wick, Highland, in the NE corner of Scotland, in the historic county of Caithness.
Stromness Lifeboat Station is located in the harbour town of Stromness, the second largest town of Mainland, Orkney, in the isles of Orkney, Scotland.
Dunmore East Lifeboat Station is located on West Wharf, at the harbour of Dunmore East, County Waterford, on the south coast of Ireland.
Arbroath Lifeboat Station is located at the harbour town and former royal burgh of Arbroath, on the North Sea coast, 16 miles (26 km) northeast of Dundee, in Angus, Scotland.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
Royal National Lifeboat Institution 
