Macduff Lifeboat Station

Last updated

Macduff Lifeboat Station
Flag of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.svg
Macduff-Lifeboat-Station.jpg
Macduff Lifeboat Station with lifeboat Lydia Macdonald on display next to the Scania launch vehicle
Scotland relief location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
Macduff, Scotland
General information
Type RNLI Lifeboat Station
LocationLaing Street Macduff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland AB44 1RD, UK
Country Scotland, UK
Coordinates 57°40′21.7″N2°29′39.5″W / 57.672694°N 2.494306°W / 57.672694; -2.494306
Opened1860
Owner Flag of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.svg Royal National Lifeboat Institution

Macduff Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat station located in Macduff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, United Kingdom.

Contents

The current station in Macduff became operational in March 1974 when the Mk1 Barnett-class lifeboat James and Margaret Boyd (ON 913) was stationed there for a trial period of one year. She had previously served at Stornoway for 19 years. In March 1975, the Committee of Management agreed that a permanent station should be re-established. [1]

The lifeboat station in this part of Aberdeenshire has been located in various locations in Banff & Macduff, and between 1923 and 1969, the station was located in Whitehills, three miles to the west of Macduff. Supporters and volunteers treat the station as 'one', regardless of the location.

The station is currently equipped with an Atlantic 85 lifeboat, Skipasund (B-933), funded by a donation from the Skipasund Foundation. Skipasund was officially handed over to the RNLI and named at a ceremony at the lifeboat station on 10 June 2023.

The launch & recovery system at Macduff is unique within the RNLI, being the only station where the boat is stored, launched and recovered from a mobile davit, which is essentially, a HGV with a crane. [1]

History

In 1859, Capt. MacDonald, Commander of H.M. Coastguard, Banff, responded to the RNLI, who at the time were keen to place more lifeboats on the coast of Scotland. With the support of the Banff Harbour Trustees, he gained considerable support locally, and the RNLI placed a lifeboat at Banff in 1860. [2]

The station was officially renamed "Banff & Macduff" in 1902, although it appears to have been known by that name in most publications since 1860. [3]

In 1923, the lifeboat was relocated to Whitehills Harbour, with the name changed to Whitehills Lifeboat Station in 1924.
After 45 years, with lifeboat cover provided by Buckie and Fraserburgh, it was decided to close the Whitehills station in 1969. [3]

For earlier history, please see


The 1969 decision to withdraw the All-weather lifeboat was reversed in 1974, and a station was re-established, but this time located at Macduff. A twenty-year old 52-foot Barnett-class lifeboat was placed on service for one year, followed by a relatively new 2-year old Solent-class lifeboat, 48-016 Douglas Currie (ON 1021), which would serve Macduff for the next nine years.

In 1984, the station closed again briefly, the All-weather lifeboat being withdrawn once again, and replaced with a B-class (Atlantic 21) Inshore lifeboat Guide Friendship II (B-530) in 1985. [1]

Station locations and names

DatesStation NameLocationComments
1860–1877BanffDeveronside/High Shore
1877–1902BanffBanff Bridge
1902–1923Banff & MacduffBanff Bridge
1923–1924Banff & MacduffWhitehills
1924–1969WhitehillsWhitehills [Note 1]
1973–1984MacduffMacduff [Note 2]
1985–MacduffMacduff [Note 3]

Macduff lifeboats

All-weather lifeboats

ON [lower-alpha 1] Op. No. [lower-alpha 2] NameIn service [4] ClassStationComments
913–James & Margaret Boyd1974–1975 Barnett Macduff
102148-016Douglas Currie1975–1984 Solent Macduff [Note 4]

Inshore lifeboats

Op. No. [lower-alpha 2] NameIn service [1] ClassComments
B-530Guide Friendship II1985–1989 B-class (Atlantic 21)
B-578The Rotary Club of Glasgow1989–2006 B-class (Atlantic 21)
B-804Lydia Macdonald2006–2022 B-class (Atlantic 85)
B-933Skipasund2022– B-class (Atlantic 85) [5]
  1. ↑ ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
  2. 1 2 Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Station closed until 1973
  2. ↑ Station closed until 1985
  3. ↑ Station reopened as an Inshore Lifeboat Station 1985
  4. ↑ All weather lifeboat withdrawn and station closed 1984

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boulmer</span> Human settlement in England

Boulmer is a village in Northumberland, England, on the North Sea coast east of Alnwick. It is home to RAF Boulmer. Boulmer has an independent volunteer lifeboat station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penarth Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI Lifeboat Station in Wales, UK

Penarth Lifeboat Station is located in Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales and originally opened in 1861.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dart Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station in Devon, England

Dart Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) inshore lifeboat operations at Dartmouth, Devon in England. The present station was opened in 2007 although an earlier lifeboat was stationed in the town from 1878 to 1896. It operates a D-class (IB1) inshore lifeboat, and a B-class inshore lifeboat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Ives Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI Lifeboat Station in Cornwall, United Kingdom

St Ives Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations at St Ives, Cornwall in the United Kingdom. The first lifeboat was built for the town in 1840 and the present boathouse was opened in 1994. It operates a Shannon-class All-weather boat (AWB) and a D-class (IB1) inshore lifeboat (ILB).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ilfracombe Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station in Devon, England

Ilfracombe Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations at Ilfracombe, Devon, England. The first lifeboat was stationed in the town in 1828 and the present station was opened in 1996. For 29 years a second boat was operated from Morte Bay at Woolacombe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minehead Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI Lifeboat Station in Quay West, United Kingdom

Minehead Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations at Minehead, Somerset in England. The first lifeboat was stationed in the town in 1901 but since 1976 two inshore lifeboats (ILBs) have been operated, a B Class rigid-hulled boat and an inflatable D Class.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Burnham-on-Sea Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station in Somerset, UK

Burnham-on-Sea Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations at Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset in England. A lifeboat was stationed in the town from 1836 until 1930. The present station was opened in 2003. It operates two inshore lifeboats (ILBs), a B-Class rigid-inflatable boat and an inflatable D-Class.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Weymouth Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station on the South coast of England, UK

Weymouth Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations at Weymouth in Dorset, England. The first lifeboat was stationed in the town in 1869. Since 2002 it has operated a Severn-class all-weather lifeboat (ALB) and an Atlantic 75 inshore lifeboat (ILB).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Poole Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI Lifeboat Station in Poole, England

Poole Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations at Poole, Dorset in England. The first lifeboat was stationed at Poole Harbour in 1865 and the present station was opened in 1988.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Margate Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI Lifeboat Station in Kent, England

Margate Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station located in Margate in the English county of Kent. The station is over 160 years old. Its crews have earned a number of gallantry awards, including five silver and 1 bronze RNLI medals for bravery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brighton Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI Lifeboat Station in East Sussex, England

Brighton Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station located in Brighton in the English county of East Sussex in the United Kingdom. It was originally established in 1825 as an all-weather lifeboat station. This lifeboat was withdrawn in 1931, and the station now operates as an inshore lifeboat station. As of 2012, the current lifeboat is the B-class Random Harvest (B-852).

The Surf-class was a light non self-righting displacement hull motor lifeboat built between 1935 and 1940 and operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) between 1936 and 1965.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aberystwyth Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI Lifeboat Station in Wales, UK

Aberystwyth Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat station in the coastal resort of Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, West Wales. It was established in 1861, but there has been a lifeboat serving the town since 1843.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plymouth Lifeboat Station</span> Royal National Lifeboat Institution base in England

Plymouth Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations at Plymouth in England. The first lifeboat was stationed in the city in the early 1800s. The station moved to its present site at Millbay Docks in 1992, a Grade II-listed three-storey tower. Since 2003 it has operated a Severn-class all-weather boat (ALB) along with an B-class Atlantic inshore lifeboat (ILB).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barmouth Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI Lifeboat Station in Wales

Barmouth Lifeboat Station is located in Barmouth, a town at the mouth of the Afon Mawddach river in Gwynedd, Wales. A lifeboat was first stationed here by the Royal National Institute for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck (RNIPLS) in 1828.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Port Erin Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI lifeboat station on the Isle of Man

Port Erin Lifeboat Station is located in the town of Port Erin in the Isle of Man. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution opened a station here in 1883 following requests from local residents.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fleetwood Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station in Lancashire, England

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Banff and Macduff Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI Lifeboat Station in Scotland, UK

Banff and Macduff Lifeboat Station is a former Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat station, located in Banff, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whitehills Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI Lifeboat Station in Scotland, UK

Whitehills Lifeboat Station is a former Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat station located in Whitehills, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cullercoats Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station in Tyne and Wear, England

Cullercoats Lifeboat Station is located on the north side of Cullercoats Harbour, in the town of Cullercoats, North Tyneside, in the county of Tyne and Wear.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2024). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 4–132.
  2. ↑ Bruce, Stanley A. (2021). Banff and Macduff Lifeboats, The Early Years, 1860–1877 (PDF). Stanley A. Bruce. pp. 1–99. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  3. 1 2 "Macduff's station history". RNLI. Retrieved 3 April 2024.
  4. ↑ Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2021). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2021. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 2–18.
  5. ↑ "Skipasund Lifeboat Arrives in Macduff". Skipasund Foundation. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
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.