Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Lifeboat future all at sea
THE future of Arbroath’s last all-weather lifeboat has yet to be decided after she slipped into retirement following three decades at the town station.
RNLB Inchcape received a rapturous farewell from crowds lining Arbroath harbour a week ago.
The Mersey-class boat’s departure signalled the end of an era for the RNLI in Scotland since Arbroath is the last station in the country with a slipway launch.
Broughty Ferry and Montrose lifeboat crews formed a guard of honour for the departing vessel.
But she was only sailed as far as Anstruther by the Arbroath crew.
The RNLI said she will remain there until this coming week.
“The lifeboat will then sail to Amble for lift-out before travelling by road to Poole in Dorset,” a spokesperson said.
Inchcape’s future will be decided after she arrives at RNLI HQ.
This comes after it emerged a near 100-yearold Montrose lifeboat is still going strong and looking for a new owner.
The RNLI says retired lifeboats will often be added to the charity’s relief fleet.
Inchcape could be decommissioned and sold to raise funds for the RNLI.
There are a couple of ex-Mersey lifeboats currently being offered online for around £75,000.
The regular maintenance regime and care lavished on old lifeboats by volunteer crews make them highly sought after.
The RNLI spokesperson said: “Inchcape’s condition will be assessed before a decision is made on her future.”
Meanwhile, an opportunity exists for a fan of the sea to own a very much older piece of Angus RNLI history.
The former Montrose lifeboat John Russell is being offered for sale – almost a century after seeing Angus service.