Portree Lifeboat Station

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Portree Lifeboat Station
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Portree Lifeboat Station - geograph.org.uk - 2465650.jpg
Portree Lifeboat Station
Isle of Skye UK location map.svg
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Portree , Isle of Skye, Scotland
General information
Type RNLI Lifeboat Station
LocationThe Pier
AddressQuay St
Town or city Portree, Highland, IV51 9DE
Country Scotland
Coordinates 57°24′38.7″N6°11′24.2″W / 57.410750°N 6.190056°W / 57.410750; -6.190056
Opened9 March 1991
Owner Flag of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.svg Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Website
Portree RNLI Lifeboat Station

Portree Lifeboat Station is located at the Pier, on Quay Street, in Portree, the largest town on the Isle of Skye, one of the Inner Hebrides, overlooking the Sound of Raasay, on the north-west coast of Scotland, formerly in the county of Ross and Cromarty, now in the administrative region of Highland.

Contents

A lifeboat was first placed at Portree by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) on 9 March 1991. [1]

Portree Trent-class Lifeboat 14-16 Stanley Watson Barker (ON 1214) RNLI 14-16 - geograph.org.uk - 3995952.jpg
Portree Trent-class Lifeboat 14-16 Stanley Watson Barker (ON 1214)

The station currently operates a Trent-class All-weather lifeboat, 14-16 Stanley Watson Barker (ON 1214), on station since 1996. [2]

History

In May 1989, at a meeting of the RNLI Committee of Management, it was decided that a station should be opened early in 1991 at Portree on the Isle of Skye. A 12-month evaluation period was set, after which it was hoped a permanent all-weather lifeboat station would be established. The nearest other lifeboat stations were Mallaig, 38 miles (61 km), Stornoway, 49 miles (79 km), and Lochinver, 56 miles (90 km). [1]

On 9 March 1991, the Waveney-class relief lifeboat 44-007 Connel Elizabeth Cargill (ON 1006) was placed on service temporarily. Soon afterwards, she was replaced by another Waveney-class lifeboat, 44-016 Ralph and Joy Swann (ON 1042). Ralph and Joy Swann was built in 1976, and had previously served at Ramsgate and Tobermory. The lifeboat was named after Cmdr Ralph Swan and his wife. Swann was a former chairman of the RNLI, and was a life-vice-president, until his death in 1992. [2] [3]

With the station now permanently established, it was essential to provide a lifeboat house, with crew facilities, a workshop, and changing rooms and showers. A building on Portree Pier formerly operated by 'Moray Fish' was found to be an ideal location, and after suitable conversion work, was opened in 1994. [1]

7 June 1996 would see the arrival of Portree's first new lifeboat. The Trent-class lifeboat cost £1,175,000, and was funded from the bequest of the late Mr Stanley Watson Barker, former Town Clerk for Barking and Dagenham, together with legacies from Mr Jack R Blaxland and Mrs Eileen Arabian. At a ceremony on 11 June 1997, the lifeboat was duly named 14-16 Stanley Watson Barker (ON 1214). [4]

In 1991, Portree Lifeboat Station celebrated their 30th anniversary. Hamish Corrigall and John Nicolson were part of the original crew when the station was established in 1991, and progressed to become coxswain and mechanic respectively. In the 30-years of service to 2021, Portree RNLI had launched 520 times, helped 462 people, and saved 18 lives. [5]

Portree lifeboats

ON [lower-alpha 1] Op. No. [lower-alpha 2] NameIn service [2] ClassComments
100644-007Connel Elizabeth Cargill1991 Waveney
104244-016Ralph and Joy Swann1991–1996 Waveney
121414-16Stanley Watson Barker1996– Trent
  1. ↑ ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
  2. ↑ Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.

See also

Notes

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    References

    1. 1 2 3 "Portree's station history". Portree Lifeboat Station. RNLI. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
    2. 1 2 3 Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2024). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 4–132.
    3. ↑ "Cdr Ralph Swann CBE". The Lifeboat. 52 (520): 220. Summer 1992. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
    4. ↑ "Celebrations at Portree" (PDF). The Lifeboat. 55 (541): 5. Autumn 1997. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
    5. ↑ Ross, John (10 March 2021). "Portree lifeboat crew marks 30 years of saving lives at sea". The Press and Journal. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
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