Kirkcudbright RNLI Lifeboat Station

16/06/2026

Some exciting roles are becoming vacant at Kirkcudbright Lifeboat Station.
First one is a Water Safety Officer to assist Keith. Follow link to find out all about it.

The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea, but it’s not limited to launching a lifeboat or providing lifeguards to save lives. 

13/06/2026

Come and smell the roses (and coffee) tomorrow Sunday 14th at crewroom!!
Coffee morning
10.30 til 12.30.

03/06/2026

Nine days - six shouts - is this a record for Kirkcudbright RNLI volunteers?

If proof were needed that Kirkcudbright RNLI badly needs its new boathouse it certainly was confirmed today as the crew were called out on Tuesday 2nd June 2026 7.45 am. This was the sixth call out in nine days. The volunteer crew were requested to search for a small fishing vessel that had run aground.

The location was not certain and a search was carried out between Abbey Head and Rascarrel Bay. The unrecoverable boat was found near Orroland, Dundrennan.

The crew had managed to get ashore safely. Once the vessel was found the RNLI inshore lifeboat Sheila Stenhouse stayed on scene and the crew directed HM Coastguard Team to the location.

Kirkcudbright Lifeboat was then stood down and returned to the pontoon where the boat was checked and refuelled.

The crew have done sterling work over the last week responding to numerous call outs in difficult circumstances. They have been operating from the boat’s mooring in the river as the new boathouse extension nears completion.

It is a credit to the Boat Crew, Shore Crew, Mechanic and RNLI Engineering Staff that the Sheila Stenhouse remains fully operational despite these unusual challenges.

01/06/2026

Eight days - five call outs for volunteers at Kirkcudbright RNLI

Two more call outs this weekend completed an exceptionally busy period for Kirkcudbright’s Lifeboat “Sheila Stenhouse” and her volunteer crew.

The volunteer crew was tasked at 8am on Sunday by HM Coastguard to respond to a Mayday Call.

They were sent, along with several other lifeboats, to assist a vessel taking in water near the Isle of Whithorn. En-route the crew were informed that the three persons on the damaged vessel had been taken on board by a local fishing vessel and safely taken to the Isle of Whithorn.

HM Coastguard requested a search for the vessel as Kirkcudbright’s lifeboat carries a salvage pump. However, apart from a strong smell of fuel nothing was found of the vessel. The RNLI Lifeboat along with Port William Inshore Lifeboat Pirsac III were then stood down and Kirkcudbright’s Sheila Stenhouse returned to its moorings on the river at Kirkcudbright and was refuelled.

Sunday’s rescue was after another Mayday call on Friday 29 May at 1.20pm when a report was received that a swimmer had possibly gone missing between Carrick and Sandgreen Beaches.

This triggered a search with Fleet Bay Inshore Rescue, Coastguard Helicopter Rescue from Prestwick, Coastguard Teams and the Police. A thorough search was carried out of the area for around 40 minutes until the person was located on land safe and well.

As the crew look forward to the opening of the new boathouse extension facility and a new boat arriving, the inshore lifeboat Sheila Stenhouse and her volunteer crew continues to serve the community 24/7 365 days a year. The last week has shown the variety of call outs that can occur and the crew continue to train for the tasks in hand.

As the summer approaches and with the recent good weather in mind it is always good to visit the RNLI site for advice and the RNLI are once again reminding us of the Float to Live message https://rnli.org/safety/float. The water can be a source of great fun and pleasure but the public are reminded always to take the advised precautions and care.

28/05/2026

A busy week

Along with everyone else Kirkcudbright Lifeboat Crew have been enjoying the glorious sunshine.

However, the good weather has not been without its problems and like the rest of the country the Kirkcudbright RNLI Lifeboat has been busy this week with 3 callouts.

All three had good outcomes and the boat was on standby each time.

The breakdown of a motor boat on Saturday

A callout to an injured person on rocks on Tuesday. This casualty was assisted by our colleagues on Fleet Bay Inshhore Rescue Service.

Yesterday, Wednesday, the pager went on just after the crew returned home from a training exercise. The boat was launched to assist the Fire Rescue, Coastguard and Paramedics to help a young person, however on this occassion was turned back.

Due to the prompt action of the public and emergency services all this incidents ended happily. However, it highlights the problems that can arise from what should be a fun time when around water.

Always good to visit the RNLI site for advice and with the recent soaring temperatures the RNLI are reminding us of the Float to Live message. https://rnli.org/safety/float

26/05/2026

A first call-out for Kirkcudbright volunteer Tom

Just after 10.00am on Saturday (23 May) the pager sounded. The town was very busy due to the bank holiday and the local Half Marathon, however, despite most of the crew having to navigate the delays on the bridge in Kirkcudbright a crew was assembled quickly.

A small motor boat was in difficulty near Auchenlarie. The RNLB Sheila Stenhouse was readied and launched from her temporary mooring on the pontoon on the river.

Arriving on scene the crew only had to provide support, and stood by, as the owner of the vessel managed to make their way ashore.

The Atlantic 85 then returned to the pontoon where it was re-fuelled by the shore crew and made ready for the next shout or exercise.

Tom, who has only recently returned for his Crew Emergency Procedure Training at Poole, said

'When the pager goes, you never know who else is available or if you’ll be called on but you respond as quickly as you can - just in case. It was good to get my first shout under my belt and even more importantly a happy outcome for all involved.'

The RNLI volunteers are ready 24/7 365 days a year to launch whenever required.

The short video shows the crew leaving the pontoon and making their way to Auchenlarie.

09/05/2026

A more challenging rescue this week.
Our mechanic along with a retired crew member rescued a duckling that fell down a drain whilst visiting the crewroom. Another life saved.😀
Progress continues at the boathouse with the bluebells in full bloom despite the work.
Dont forget the coffee morning tomorrow. 10.30 til 12.30 (ish)
Enjoy the weekend

01/05/2026

Second "Shout" of the week

Kirkcudbright Lifeboat was called out on Wednesday 29 April just after 1 pm. The volunteer crew were asked to assist paramedics and the local coastguard team to evacuate an injured casualty from a yacht.

The yacht was berthed on the pontoon close to the temporary berth of the Kirkcudbright RNLI Lifeboat.

To facilitate a safer move of the casualty, the lifeboat was requested to take the casualty on board and move them a short distance to the waiting ambulance.

All three emergency services, the RNLI, HM Coastguard and the Ambulance Service worked closely together to provide the best outcome for the casualty.

The lifeboat was then checked and refuelled ready for the next service.

Kirkcudbright Lifeboat remains on its temporary mooring in the river as work progresses on the new boathouse extension.

28/04/2026

Kirkcudbrights RNLI Lifeboat “Sheila Stenhouse” returning to her mooring in the River Dee yesterday afternoon (27.04.26)

The lifeboat was stood down after heading towards the Murray Isles where it was thought some people had got into difficulty. They managed to return safely to the shore themselves.
This “shout” highlights some of the problems around our shoreline.
The RNLI is available 24 hours a day and the crews are happy to be called out, even if turned back, rather than waiting for a situation becoming a crisis.
As the weather warms the water becomes inviting and although the RNLI encourages people to enjoy it, it is wise to adhere to safety advice.

https://rnli.org/safety/know-the-risks

22/04/2026

An amazing day and huge honour for myself, Christine Collins LPO, and Kirkcudbright.
Added bonus of meeting the other 3, a brilliant trio and great cross-section of the RNLI

Four Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) volunteers and staff have today (21 April) been welcomed by Their Majesties The King and Queen to a special event at Buckingham Palace, marking the Centenary of Queen Elizabeth II’s birth.