The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Lifeboat crew needs all-weather boat to cope with dangers of North Sea
Sir, – With regard to the recent letter concerning the farewell of the Arbroath Inchcape watched by a massive crowd who gathered, which included me, I have the following points to make.
The station requires an all-weather boat propelled by two water jets instead of the traditional propellers which makes that class the most agile and manoeuvrable lifeboat, yet one which can operate in very shallow water, as is needed here.
The Shannon fits that criteria and here is the photo of the Montrose lifeboat – pictured right – using such a class which I photographed as it entered Arbroath harbour to say fond farewell to the Inchcape. The Montrose lifeboat station is one of the oldest in the UK, having been established in 1800.
The Arbroath lifeboat station was established in 1803 so these two stations are two of the oldest in the whole of the UK.
Since 1939, at the start of the Second World War, there have been several RNLI stations which suffered disasters and the loss of life.
In chronological order, they were:
St Ives 1939, Cullercoats 1939, Newburgh 1942, The Mumbles 1947, Scarborough (twice) 1952 and 1954, Bridlington 1952, Fraserburgh (twice) 1953 and 1970, Arbroath 1953, Broughty Ferry 1959, Seaham 1962, Longhope 1969, Kilmore Quay 1977 and finally Penlee in 1981.
A total of 75 RNLI crew all lost their lives here.
On October 27 1953 the Arbroath RNLI boat the Robert Lindsay was launched in heavy seas to assist a vessel in distress three miles east of Fife Ness.
Hours later the Arbroath boat attempted to re-enter Arbroath harbour but was capsized by a massive wave which killed six crewmen – only second coxswain Archibald Smith survived.
Most of the stations which suffered losses now have all-weather lifeboats today, ranging from the Trent, Mersey, Shannon and Tamar boats.
Only Arbroath and Cullercoats have Atlantic 85 rigid inflatables.
Cullercoats launches into a horseshoe bay while Arbroath launches directly into the North Sea which, on a good day, faces the wrath of a heavy sea and the boat faces a clear danger – not to be underestimated, as seen by the 1953 disaster.
The RNLI promised in 2014 a Shannon for Arbroath but changed this to an Atlantic.
Why was that, as I have never heard any explanation?
It seems the RNLI is planning to spend a lot building a shed for the Atlantic while Swanage launches their Shannon down a slipway, so why not in Arbroath?
This decision has rocked the good folk of Arbroath which, in my opinion, do not deserve to be treated in such a disrespectful way.
Over the years the RNLI has collected much funding from the good people of this area, so we need answers.
I do not want to hear of any more RNLI disasters anywhere but those rigid Atlantic inflatables are not suitable for the North Sea on a bad day, never mind a severe gale with a high tide which is scary to watch from the shore.
I choked with emotion when the Inchcape left so hope I cry with joy if and when a Shannon arrives.
Ian Wallace.
Carnoustie.