Maritime emergency response resources in northeast Scotland are enhanced with the addition of a new lifeboat in the Cromarty Firth, UK
The Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) welcomed a Shannon-class vessel to its Invergordon station, bolstering its marine and offshore search and rescue capabilities.
RNLB Agnes AP Barr took up full operational duty at Invergordon lifeboat station on 12 February, replacing Trent-class lifeboat RNLB Douglas Aikman Smith.
The new self-righting lifeboat has a range of 250 nautical miles and top speed of 25 knots from two Scania engines, each rated at 485 kW, sufficient for towing larger distressed vessels. These power waterjets for manoeuvring in shallow waters more easily than the traditional propellers on RNLI’s current lifeboats.
After 25 years of service at Invergordon, RNLB Douglas Aikman Smith will join RNLI’s relief lifeboat fleet in Scotland.
RNLB Agnes AP Barr arrived in Cromarty Firth in November 2020 and volunteer crews started operational training. Its introduction to search and rescue services was delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
It was named after a major donor, Agnes Arthur Paton Barr, who left more than £1M (US$1.4M) to the RNLI to fund a lifeboat on the east coast of Scotland.
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