Royal visitor for new Loch Ness lifeboat station

Duke of Kent calls in at Highland maritime rescue centres during north tour

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A LIFEBOAT station miles from the sea was given a royal seal of approval yesterday during a visit by the Duke of Kent.

The duke, who is the president of the RNLI, inspected the newest lifeboat station in the UK, which covers landlocked Loch Ness from a base near Drumnadrochit.

The Mercurius, the first inland lifeboat in Scotland, is now ready to be called out to help leisure and commercial vessels in difficulty on the loch.

Loch Ness, the largest inland body of water in Scotland by volume, is over 20 miles long, a mile wide and 754ft at its deepest.

The new boat arrived on the loch in March, marking the first time in 13 years the charity has put a lifeboat in a new location.

The vessel is an Atlantic 75 rigid inflatable boat (Rib), used previously in Wales.

She has been fully re-equipped for service at her new home in the Highlands, and can carry three crew at a top speed of 30 knots.

Coastguards operated a rescue boat on the loch since 1995, but have now handed over responsibility to the RNLI.

The duke was accompanied by RNLI chairman Sir Jock Slater, who will be retiring from his role later this year after five years in the post.

John Caldwell, RNLI divisional inspector for Scotland and Maren Caldwell, head of regional fundraising and communications, also joined the tour.

Yesterday was part of a two-day inspection of Highland lifeboat stations, which will continue today.

The duke also visited Kessock station, near Inverness, and Invergordon station yesterday.

Todaythe duke will visit Thurso and Wick stations.

RNLI lifeboats around Scotland launched 1,032 times in 2007, rescuing 886 people.