New station opening and boat naming ceremony for Stonehaven RNLI
On Saturday 6 September, the new state-of-the-art Stonehaven RNLI Lifeboat Station will be officially opened with a ceremony for invited guests, after months of fundraising and construction. The Stonehaven RNLI inshore lifeboat, Jamie Hunter, will also be officially named at the ceremony.
Local volunteers at the lifeboat station have worked tirelessly to raise an incredible £135,167 towards the £1.2million required to complete the required work for the new lifeboat station.
Peter Esson, Lifeboat Operations Manager for Stonehaven RNLI, says: ‘We cannot thank the local community and our supporters enough for all their support over the last few years as we’ve worked towards this new state-of-the-art lifeboat station.
‘The new lifeboat station allows us to conduct training sessions in dedicated training areas, with no compromise on space and storage for kit, spare parts and fundraising materials. When we’re tasked on a shout and bring casualties back to the station, we’ll be able to offer them a more comfortable recovery space and showers to warm up in.’
Paul McKeown, Fundraising and Partnerships Lead, says: ‘The new Stonehaven RNLI Lifeboat Station has been created by adapting an existing building in Stonehaven harbour into a modern lifeboat station under one roof. As well as the improved facilities for the lifeboat and volunteers, there is now also space to welcome visitors to learn more about the RNLI and water safety.
We can’t thank everyone enough who supported this vital project and helping to save more lives at sea.’
Work began on the lifeboat station in 2024 and will be officially opened by the RNLI on Saturday 6 September. The new station features training rooms, briefing room, crew breakout area, kitchen, changing and shower facilities, a large boat hall that will house the lifeboat and its launching tractor and trailer, all under the same roof. Additionally, Stonehaven RNLI will now have a new permanent shop for fundraisers to raise vital funds for the station’s lifesaving work.
Peter adds: ‘For the last 10 years, the volunteer crew have been launching to rescue from a makeshift lifeboat station, so this new station is hugely beneficial in so many ways.’
Stonehaven RNLI’s inshore lifeboat, Jamie Hunter, will also be named at the ceremony. Since the lifeboat arrived at the station in December 2019, has responded 67 shouts, aiding 44 people and saving a life in the process.
Notes to editors
· Stonehaven RNLI was re-established in 2013 with the placing on service of a B-Class Atlantic 75. The current Inshore lifeboat is an Atlantic 85 B-Class the ‘Jamie Hunter’
· On 25th February 2024 Stonehaven RNLI commemorated the 150th Anniversary of the tragedy of the 1874 Stonehaven lifeboat disaster
RNLI media contacts
Anna Carlton, Lifeboat Press Officer for Stonehaven RNLI, 07530 338562, [email protected]
Richard Smith, RNLI Regional Communications Manager for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]
Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Communications Lead for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]
RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789
RNLI online
For more information on the RNLI please visit rnli.org. News releases and other media resources, including RSS feeds, downloadable photos and video, are available at the RNLI News Centre rnli.org/news-and-media.
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 over 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 142,200 lives.
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.