Stonehaven Lifeboat Station

Stonehaven Lifeboat Station is located at Old Pier, in Stonehaven, a harbour town 14.5 miles (23.3 km) south of Aberdeen, in Aberdeenshire, historically Kincardineshire, on the east coast of Scotland. A lifeboat was first stationed at Stonehaven by the Kincardineshire Lifeboat Association in 1854. Management of the station was transferred to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1868, operating a lifeboat there until 1934, when the station was closed. The RNLI reopened Stonehaven as an Inshore lifeboat station in 1967, but it closed in 1984, due to operational inactivity. Stonehaven's Maritime Rescue Institute would provide a rescue service until it was forced to close in 2012, restarted in 2013 and operated once again by the RNLI. The station currently operates Jamie Hunter (B-919), a B-class (Atlantic 85) Inshore lifeboat, on station since 2019. History Stonehaven first received a lifeboat in 1854, when one was presented to the Kincardineshire Lifeboat Association (KLA) by Miss Lydia Ann Barclay, of Aberdeen, a Minister for the Gospel, for the Society of Friends. A letter of 27 February 1867 from Mr Sheriff Wilson of Stonehaven was considered at the meeting of the RNLI committee of management on Thursday 7 March, stating that the KLA were prepared to transfer the Stonehaven lifeboat station to the management of the RNLI. It was decided to form a branch of the Institution at Stonehaven, and that the station there should be fully renovated. It was later reported that the local boatmen had lost all confidence in the KLA lifeboat, and were refusing to enrol as its crew. The boat was heavy to pull., and although of the self-righting type, was proven not to self-right. In March 1868, a new 33-foot self-righting 'Pulling and Sailing' (P&S) lifeboat, one with sails and (10) oars, along with its carriage, was transported to Aberdeen free of charge, by the Aberdeen Steam Navigation Company, from where it was transported to Stonehaven by rail. A new boathouse had been constructed on the south side of the pier, at a cost of £203. In a grand procession on 12 March 1868, the lifeboat, decorated in flags, was transported to the new boathouse from the railway station, accompanied by various members of the local magistrates and council, Freemasons, the artillery and rifle volunteers, fishermen, sailors, etc, along with a Highland piper, and a band. The lifeboat had been funded by a gift of £420 from Mrs George Burgess of London, and was named St George at her request. On 27 February 1874, the Stonehaven lifeboat St George was launched to the aid of the barque Grace Darling of Blyth, Northumberland, which was displaying distress signals, whilst being blown northwards past Stonehaven. As the lifeboat finally caught up with the vessel, the distress flags were seen to be taken down, and the barque continued on its voyage. Conditions too rough to return to Stonehaven, the lifeboat made for Aberdeen, but capsized as she crossed the bar, and was wrecked, Four lifeboat men were lost. The Grace Darling was wrecked the following day at Rattray Head, Aberdeenshire, with the loss of 14 of her 15 crew. A replacement lifeboat was placed at Stonehaven in 1874. A 33-foot (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, named Star, which would serve Stonehaven until 1888. A new lifeboat would be sent to Stonehaven in 1888. The Alexander Black (ON 147) was a slightly larger 34-foot self-righting lifeboat. To accommodate the boat, a new boathouse was constructed along Shorehead beyond the South Pier, at a cost of £327, completed in 1890. On 16 December 1911, the schooner Hiskilina of Westerhaven (Groningen), was on passage from Granton, Edinburgh to Germany with a cargo of coal, when she was seen in distress off Stonehaven Bay. The Stonehaven lifeboat Alexander Black was launched at 9:00am. The vessel sank before the lifeboat arrived, but the four crew had managed to get aboard the ship's boat, and were all rescued. The Stonehaven Lifeboat would receive the thanks of the German Government for their actions. The Alexander Black would serve at Stonehaven until 1916. In preparation for a replacement lifeboat, yet another boathouse was constructed in 1913, this time on the north side of the harbour at Old Pier. In 1916, a 35-foot self-righting lifeboat was placed at Stonehaven, and named Joseph Ridgway (ON 652). In 1934, after 18 years service, the Joseph Ridgway was withdrawn, and sold. With motor-powered lifeboats to the north at Aberdeen, to the south at Montrose, and an existing boat at Gourdon, the station was closed. In 1967, responding to a huge increase in water-based leisure activity seen nationally, the RNLI re-established a station at Stonehaven, placing one of the small fast D-class (RFD PB16) Inshore lifeboats at the station. However, with little operational activity, the Inshore lifeboat was withdrawn at the end of the summer season in October 1984, and the station was closed once again. A rescue service would be taken up by Stonehaven's Maritime Rescue Institute, a Scottish Charity, which also provided advisory and training services in marine emergency response and rescue, and research, development and evaluation of SAR services. The charity operated until 2013, when damage sustained in the storms of 2012 forced their closure. In 2013, operations were once again taken over by the RNLI. The B-class (Atlantic 75) Alexander Cattanach (B-740) was placed at Stonehaven on trial in 2013, before the assignment of a permanent lifeboat, Jack & Joyce Burcombe (B-762). In 2019, the last Atlantic 75 in Scotland, Miss Betty (B-782), was retired, and replaced with a new Atlantic 85, Jamie Hunter (B-919). A ceremony was held on 6 September 2025, to mark the formal opening of the new lifeboat station at Stonehaven. The station has moved along the quay, to the former Maritime Rescue Institute building. Conversion work started in 2024, and was completed at a cost of £1.2 million. The new station features up-to-date crew facilities, training rooms, changing and shower facilities, and a boat hall large enough to accommodate the lifeboat, launching tractor and trailer, all under the same roof. Additionally, the station has a new fundraising shop, and a visitor display area. The day also marked the formal naming ceremony for the B-class (Atlantic 85) Inshore lifeboat Jamie Hunter (B-919), on station since 2019, but delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and later by construction work. Station honours The following are awards made at Stonehaven. Albert Medal (Second Class) James Crowden, Chief Officer, H.M. Coastguard – 1869 RNIPLS Silver Medal John Leslie, Master Mariner – 1849 Daniel Sutherland, Boatman, H.M. Coastguard – 1850 John Chaddock, Commissioned Boatman, H.M. Coastguard – 1853 Robert Collison, Master of the William and John – 1853 RNLI Silver Medal James Crowden, Chief Officer, H.M. Coastguard – 1869 Thanks of the German Government Stonehaven Lifeboat – 1911 Roll of honour In memory of those lost whilst serving the Stonehaven lifeboat. On service to the schooner Olive on 4 April 1849 Edmund Balls, H.M. Coastguard Alexander Angus Lost when the lifeboat St. George capsized entering Aberdeen harbour, having abandoned their rescue attempts of the barque Grace Darling, 27 February 1874. James Leiper, Coxswain John Brown, Assistant Coxswain Alexander Main James Lees Stonehaven lifeboats Kincardineshire Lifeboat Assoc. lifeboat Pulling and Sailing (P&S) lifeboats Station Closed in 1934 Inshore lifeboats RNLI D-class Inshore Lifeboat withdrawn and station closed 1984 Maritime Rescue Institute MRI station closed 2012 RNLI B-class See also List of RNLI stations List of former RNLI stations Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats Notes References External links Stonehaven RNLI Lifeboat Station