Anstruther RNLI complete 100 mile training exercise up the Forth

At 10.00am, after launching from Anstruther Harbour, the Anstruther RNLI volunteer crew headed up the Forth to complete navigational and familiarisation training, with the aim of providing essential navigational training in an extended operational area, and to gain valuable ’local knowledge’ of the various islands, harbours and waterways. To assist them with this task the Anstruther RNLI crew were joined by RNLI Coastal Trainer and Helm of the Queensferry lifeboat, who provided them with the vital local knowledge and information to ensure the crew maximised the training opportunity. This took the crew out of their comfort zone and enabled them to hone their skills in unfamiliar waters, and to be able to safely navigate around sometimes tricky and unforgiving approaches.

The exercise took the crew under the Kincardine and Clackmananshire Bridges and enabled a visit to Crammond Island, negotiating the cut offs and the causeway to help gain valuable knowledge to assist with further shouts, should the Anstruther RNLI crew be called upon to assist its flank stations. The exercise also took in Crammond Harbour, Charleston Harbour, Limekilns, Inverkeithing, Port Edgar and Queensferry Harbour: each proving different challenges for the crew to negotiate. This training has become a necessity and will be repeated to ensure that all, all-weather lifeboat crew at Anstruther RNLI get an opportunity to familiarise themselves with the extended area that the Shannon class lifeboat is capable of working within.

Since adopting the callsign ‘Anstruther Lifeboat’ on 27 August 2024 and becoming Anstruther’s new all-weather lifeboat, the Robert and Catherine Steen has been called upon to respond to ‘shouts’ by HM Coastguard on 23 occasions. These ‘shouts’ have involved Anster’s Shannon rescue stricken vessels from perilous situations, searching for and rescuing persons in the water, and has seen it respond to incidents up as far as the Kincardine and Forth Bridges in support of its flank stations. Furthermore, due to its speed and responsiveness, it has operated across the water, supporting combined searches with North Berwick RNLI lifeboat.

With a published speed of 25 knots, but with an operational speed of over 30 knots with favourable wind and tides, Anstruther’s new Shannon class all-weather lifeboat has an operational reach of 250 miles and is capable of maintaining its top speed for 10 hours. This has been a complete game changer for the Anstruther RNLI volunteer crew, and for the casualties they are called upon to rescue. The new ‘big boat’ is over twice as fast as the old Mersey class all-weather lifeboat, which means that the Robert and Catherine Steen can get to casualties in almost half the time.

In addition to being a valuable asset to the area and enabling an overarching search and rescue cover well beyond Anstruther’s former responsive capabilities, the Robert and Catherine Steen is a very special lifeboat, as it is a Launch a Memory lifeboat and bears the names of over 5000 ‘support crew’ who come with us every time the Shannon hits the water. Anstruther RNLI crew remain eternally grateful to our very special Launch a Memory supporters whose contribution enables us to continue Saving lives at Sea.

After a very successful, but long exercise the Anstruther all-weather lifeboat returned to Anstruther Harbour at 8.00pm. However, there was too much water to allow a safe high water recovery, so the lifeboat remained afloat and moored up until it could be rehoused at 9.15pm. The crew couldn’t get to knock-off quite yet, because, as they do after every exercise or ‘shout’, the lifeboat was washed, refuelled, re-equipped and made ready to respond to the next emergency. Eventually, at 11.15pm, the volunteer crew could finally enjoy a cuppa and reflect on a vital day’s training.

Michael Bruce, RNLI Coxswain for Anstruther’s RNLI Lifeboat, said: ‘This essential familiarisation for the crew has become necessary due to the now extended range of Anster’s all-weather lifeboat. The new Shannon all-weather lifeboat has the speed and reach, which we never experienced before. Consequently, more and more of our ‘shouts’ involve providing assistance to our flank stations and extending our capabilities to help save lives at sea, not only along the East Neuk of Fife, but up as far as the Forth bridges. This long day for the volunteer crew provided an excellent opportunity to gain vital local knowledge, enabling us to carry out our supportive role efficiently and with minimal risk.’

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RNLI media contacts

Deputy Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for Anstruther RNLI 07748907702

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Regional Communication Manager Scotland Richard Smith 07826 900639 [email protected]

Regional Communications Lead Scotland Martin Macnamara 07920 365929, [email protected]

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