RNLI Kirkwall Lifeboat

07/10/2026

Another shout out for our new Station Technician, Jack Gray. Brian Kynoch, our Lifeboat Operation Manager, presented Jack with his pager after Tuesday evenings training session.

After running through several engine scenarios, including fire and loss of one engine, Jack is ready to go out on call.

Thanks to the fully qualified coxswains and crew for sharing their skills, Jack and fellow trainees are progressing well.

Fantastic work 🤩

04/10/2026

Saturday (4 Oct) exercise for the crew took them to Inganess Bay. They practised route planning and navigational training on the outgoing and return journeys.

They also conducted exercises on the Y-boat, including veering the boat to the shoreline using the anchor and line along with the boats engine. A second exercise was to recover a crew member who had fallen from the Y-boat.

A second recovery exercise was the rescue of a person in the water from the lifeboat using a 2-strop lift with an A-frame recovery system.

Regular exercises are essential for the ongoing training of new crew members and to maintain the existing skills for fully qualified crew.

🛟🧡🌊



📷 Ali Cameron

29/09/2026

Great work Jack Gray!

Not only has Jack joined the volunteer boat crew recently but he was also the successful applicant for our Station Technician job.

Everyone at Kirkwall Lifeboat Station is delighted to see Jack learning the ropes in his new job with us. He has been working with long standing station technician Dupre and Area Technical Manager, Andy Pearson based in Thurso.

We look forward to working with Jack for years to come and wish him success with his training over the next few months. 🤩



📷 Erica Hume Niven

27/09/2026

LIFEBOAT SHOP OPEN TODAY (27 Sep) now until 3pm
....looking for a cool teddy bear or peedie wellies for any peedie breeks? 👨‍👦🐻🐨🤎❤️🧡💛



📷 Erica Hume Niven

26/09/2026

Another BIG WELCOME, this time to Andrew Gillies who has jumped ship from RNLI in the north of England to RNLI Kirkwall.

We are so pleased Andrew has joined our crew. He and his family have come up to Orkney to live and work. He has already started his training specific to volunteering on a Severn class.

24/09/2026

A BIG WELCOME to Nick Moore (on the left) our new Water Safety Officer in training. He was out at the Safe Islander event at KGS with our outgoing Water Safety Officer, Mike Cooper; who has been volunteering for the RNLI for many years in various roles. They were joined by John Tulloch, one of our boat crew, who is a real all rounder - supporting the Water Safety Officers, often covering the Lifebost Shop and out and about helping the fundraising team.

200 1st year pupils from Kirkwall, Stromness, Westray and Sanday came along for a safety awareness day delivered by the RNLI and other organisations.

🛟☔️🔥🌊⛑️🥽🦺🔌🕯🧯



📷 Nick Moor

20/09/2026

A BIG WELCOME to Pippa Easener, who has been down in Poole with fellow new recruit Jack Gray, going through intense training proecedures so they are search and rescue ready and prepared to start their Severn class specific training.

Training in Poole included D class capsizing and righting procedures, basic firefighting, emergency situations like collision and sinking, safely entering water from height and more......!

Amazing work 🤩

19/09/2026

If you missed two of our volunteer crews' achievement in the Orcadian this summer here they are. .... Great work Graeme and PJ. Read the official press release in the comments below to see what is sent to the media..........more stories coming in the next few weeks about our leavers, achievers and arrivals.... 🤩😍

🛟🧡🌊



📷 Erica Hume Niven

12/09/2026

CONGRATULATIONS to Taylor Gibson, now our youngest fully qualified volunteer boat crew.

Taylor was very dedicated to his role to get this far since receiving his pager in Spring. He has been supported by crew and RNLI trainer Davie Orr to reach this important stage.

AMAZING 🤩



📷 Brian Kynoch

11/09/2026