Six Scottish RNLI stations to receive new lifeboats by 2030 as demand increases

RNLI Charity Emergency Scotland Six Scottish RNLI stations to receive new lifeboats by 2030   RNLI Charity Emergency Scotland Six RNLI stations across Scotland are set to receive new lifeboats (Image: RNLI Thurso) This article is brought to you , and has been written . It does not necessarily reflect the view of The Herald. Six RNLI stations across Scotland are set to receive new lifeboats . Volunteer lifeboat crews responded to 9,058 callouts in 2025 – more than three and half times what was expected of the charity 50 years ago. In addition to increasing demand, the RNLI said the way people are using the coast and the water is changing, which the charity said requires an “evolutionary” response. Lifeboat crews are responding to far fewer calls to boats and vessels, and are increasingly responding to people who start out from the beach and use the coast for recreational purposes, such as open water swimming, kayaking and paddleboarding. It means that the majority of incidents are now within the operational capabilities of an inshore lifeboat, prompting the charity to review its long-term lifeboat fleet strategy. “The RNLI has constantly evolved and improved our service over 202 years,” RNLI chief executive Peter Sparkes said. Design concept of the new Coastal Lifeboat (Image: Zodiac) “We make evidence-based decisions and strive to ensure that we have the right lifeboats in the right places, at the right time to save as many lives as possible around the coast of the UK and Ireland and, crucially, to enable us to bring our selfless, dedicated people home safely. “We are responding to the changing nature of lifesaving at sea ’ future needs. What will never change is our charity’s purpose, to save lives at sea and our mission, to save every one.” On Monday, the RNLI announced that it has reviewed its fleet strategy and developed a 15-year plan to ensure it has the most appropriate lifeboats in the right places which will save the greatest number of lives in the most effective way while keeping volunteer crews safe. As part of the RNLI’s 2040 strategy, six lifeboat stations across Scotland will receive new lifeboats between 2028 and 2030. Scotland’s two remaining Trent-class lifeboats, based at Broughty Ferry and Dunbar, will be replaced . The Severn-class lifeboats at Campbeltown, Stromness and Mallaig will be succeeded by Shannon-class lifeboats, and Portpatrick’s Shannon-class lifeboat will be replaced by a Coastal lifeboat. RNLI crews rushed to sinking boat after reports of person in water Kirkcudbright RNLI opens £1.2 million station and names new lifeboat Lifeboat crew called into action four times in six hours The second phase of changes will modernisation of the charity’s lifeboat fleet through the gradual exit of the Trent-class All Weather Lifeboat, which first entered service in 1994, 2028.