RNLI Stromness Lifeboat

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Stromness, Scotland
RNLI Stromness Lifeboat

Operating for over 150 years, the lifeboat is situated at the north end of Scapa Flow. The rescue wo

06/10/2026

Saving lives at sea isn't always about searching all night in a gale; judging the swell at the base of a cliff to get a stretcher in and out or grabbing a hand in the waves. Sometimes all that is required is the calm voice of the lifeboat coxswain on the radio. Last week Stromness Lifeboat - Violet Dorothy and Kathleen - responded to a distress call from a large fishing boat run aground below cliffs close to Old Man of Hoy. When the lifeboat arrived the crew of 17 were afraid their boat would capsize and were preparing to abandon ship. Lifeboat Coxswain Kevin Manson assured the skipper they would be fine and persuaded them to stay put until the helicopter arrived. All were winched to safety without getting their feet wet. How different it might have been had they taken to the water.

03/10/2026

A supporter was enquiring about postcards of Violet Dorothy and Kathleen so here it is. Available in the shop. Sorry about the photo - there was a total solar eclipse at the time it was taken - its not on the actual postcard.

01/10/2026

At 06:30 this morning a large fishing boat ran aground close to the base of Old Man of Hoy. A Mayday was transmitted and Stromness Lifeboat - Violet Dorothy and Kathleen - was quickly on the scene. MV Hamnavoe, the Stromness to Scrabster car ferry, was passing at the time on her normal run to Scrabster, having departed Stromness a few minutes earlier. The Hamnavoe crew put her launch in the water to stand by the casualty. HM Coastguard helicopter from Shetland arrived and winched 17 people from the vessel before transferring them safely to Kirkwall Airport. This afternoon an Orkney based tug was due to attend to assess the possibility of re-floating the casualty. Thank you to everyone concerned for coming together to avert a more serious incident.

29/09/2026

The Lifeboat shop has 4 Stromness Lifeboat 2027 calendars left. The only remaining ones are at Flett's, Wishart's, Leviathan International, Argo's and Orcadia Cuts. Buy now for Christmas.

16/09/2026

If you normally buy your Stromness Lifeboat calendar in December you might like to think again. The Lifeboat Shop, Wishart's, Flett's, Argo's, Leviathan International and Orcadia Cuts still have copies available - but probably won't last until December. Thanks to Cecil Garson for this super image which features in November 2027.

13/09/2026

Thanks to Birsay Bay Tea Rooms for their generous support of Stromness Lifeboat Calendar again this year.

02/09/2026

Family members of the late Shaun Shepherd, who tragically died following an accident in Scapa Flow on 23rd July this year, came to Stromness Lifeboat Station on Tuesday night to present the proceeds of a collection taken at Shaun's funeral. Pictured are Shaun's mum and dad - John and Peggy - and sister Lauren, seen presenting a cheque for £4,050 to Coxswain Norman Brass. Also present are the four other Stromness crew members on the lifeboat that day - Shaun Robertson, David Wishart, David Laughton and Alistair Park. Looking on are three of Shaun's work mates. Thank you to the Shepherd family for the donation, it is highly valued and very much appreciated.

31/08/2026

A big thank you to everyone who turned out to support our Open Day yesterday. The rain held off until near the end and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves with the food, music, games and attractions on offer. There was some confusion about the sign directing people along the pier to "Colin's Creatures" They were in fact the lobsters and such in the tank and not, as some folk guessed, the lifeboat crew members standing with Coxswain Colin Mowat nearby.

20/08/2026

DIARY DATE: Stromness Lifeboat Open Day. Sunday 30 August 12 noon to 3pm. Don't miss the fun, music, food, stalls and blether.

03/08/2026

A big thank you to The Red Shed Shop for their generous sponsorship of August in this year's calendar.

Address

16 Victoria Street
Stromness
KW163AA

Website

http://www.stromnesslifeboat.org.uk/

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