Portree Lifeboat Station
RNLI Lifeboat station in Highland, Scotland
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Portree Lifeboat Station is located at the Pier, on Quay Street, in Portree, the largest town on the Isle of Skye, one of the Inner Hebrides, overlooking the Sound of Raasay, on the north-west coast of Scotland, formerly in the county of Ross and Cromarty, now in the administrative region of Highland.
| Portree Lifeboat Station | |
|---|---|
| |
 Portree Lifeboat Station | |
  Location within Isle of Skye  Location within Highland | |
General information | |
| Type | RNLI Lifeboat Station |
| Location | The Pier, Quay St, Portree, Highland, IV51 9DE, Scotland |
| Coordinates | 57°24′38.7″N 6°11′24.2″W |
| Opened | 9 March 1991 |
| Owner | Royal National Lifeboat Institution |
| Website | |
| Portree RNLI Lifeboat Station | |
A lifeboat was first placed at Portree by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) on 9 March 1991.[1]
The station currently operates a Trent-class All-weather lifeboat, 14-16 Stanley Watson Barker (ON 1214), on station since 1996.[2]
History
In May 1989, at a meeting of the RNLI Committee of Management, it was decided that a station should be opened early in 1991 at Portree on the Isle of Skye. A 12-month evaluation period was set, after which it was hoped a permanent all-weather lifeboat station would be established. The nearest other lifeboat stations were Mallaig, 38 miles (61 km), Stornoway, 49 miles (79 km), and Lochinver, 56 miles (90 km).[1]
On 9 March 1991, the Waveney-class relief lifeboat 44-007 Connel Elizabeth Cargill (ON 1006) was placed on service temporarily. Soon afterwards, she was replaced by another Waveney-class lifeboat, 44-016 Ralph and Joy Swann (ON 1042). Ralph and Joy Swann was built in 1976, and had previously served at Ramsgate and Tobermory. The lifeboat was named after Cmdr Ralph Swan and his wife. Swann was a former chairman of the RNLI, and was a life-vice-president, until his death in 1992.[3][4]
With the station now permanently established, it was essential to provide a lifeboat house, with crew facilities, a workshop, and changing rooms and showers. A building on Portree Pier formerly operated by 'Moray Fish' was found to be an ideal location, and after suitable conversion work, was opened in 1994.[1]
7 June 1996 would see the arrival of Portree's first new lifeboat. The Trent-class lifeboat cost £1,175,000, and was funded from the bequest of the late Mr Stanley Watson Barker, former town clerk for Barking and Dagenham, together with legacies from Mr Jack R. Blaxland and Mrs Eileen Arabian. At a ceremony on 11 June 1997, the lifeboat was duly named 14-16 Stanley Watson Barker (ON 1214).[5]
In 2021, Portree Lifeboat Station celebrated their 30th anniversary. In that time, Portree lifeboat had launched 520 times, helped 462 people, and saved 18 lives. Two crew members from the original crew from 1991, Hamish Corrigall and John Nicolson, also celebrated 30 years service, as coxswain and mechanic respectively.[6]
At 13:59 on 18 April 2026, the new Shannon-class All-weather lifeboat, 13-59 Peter and Mary (ON 1366), arrived at Portree. After a period of crew training, she will replace the Trent-class lifeboat, 14-16 Stanley Watson Barker (ON 1214), which has been on station at Portree for 30 years.[7]
13-59 Peter and Mary (ON 1366) was formally placed on service at 13:59 on Monday 1 June 2026.[8]