Loch Ness RNLI unveiled its new multi-million pound station and lifeboat yesterday for its first official day of operations.
The new station and rescue vessel come after the Loch Ness crew experienced their busiest ever year in 2017, with 33 call outs.
The station is located at Temple Pier near Drumnadrochit and is a huge upgrade that cost £2.7 million. Thanks to the new equipment, the lifeboat can now lowered into the loch in less than a minute.
To go with that there is the B-class Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat named Sheila & Dennis Tongue IV was built in-house by the RNLI at a cost £214,000.
Stuart Gudgeon, RNLI Area Lifesaving Manager, said: “We have got massively improved rescue assets out there.
“The vessel itself is improved, it is larger and faster. It carries more crew so it is safer for the crew having an extra member on board.
“For the first time on Loch Ness they also have the radar on the lifeboat which is brilliant for night-time navigation and also direction-finding equipment.”
Senior helmsman Garry Macleod who will be piloting the B-class Atlantic 85 said it will make a huge difference.
He added: “It will do 35 knots, that will be able to get us down to Fort Augustus say in 20 minutes on a calm day from here and we should be able to get to casualties really quickly and efficiently.”
Just as important is the lifeboat station.
Mr Macleod said: “Getting out on the loch fast is good but also having somewhere safe and warm to keep the boat, these lifeboats don’t do well being kept outside.”
He hoped the crew would “not be so busy as last year”, but added: “The tourism and boat traffic on the loch seems to be growing year on year.”
Gordon Menzies, 78, joined the original rescue team on Loch Ness back in 1983 and remains a crew member, said he was “absolutely delighted.”
“It is great to see because it is a problem having the boat out in all weathers, repairs, launching it if it is covered in snow – here it is ready to go 24/7.”
The station was largely funded by a bequest from Mrs Agnes Barr while the cash for the lifeboat was willed to the RNLI by Dennis Tongue.
The RNLI hopes that the new lifeboat station will help them recruit new volunteers when the open the doors to the public on March 3.
