Kyle of Lochalsh RNLI has a special visit from Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines

Kyle of Lochalsh RNLI is home to the ‘Spirit of Fred. Olsen’ Atlantic 85-class lifeboat, which is the most recent of the four inshore lifeboats that Fred. Olsen’s generous guests have funded during the RNLI’s 50-year partnership with the cruise company.

During Monday evening’s celebration, volunteers at Kyle of Lochalsh RNLI, along with the representatives from Fred. Olsen, watched the joint promotional video that the RNLI and Fred. Olsen recently produced to celebrate the partnership, with Fred. Olsen supplying refreshments for the evening.

In recent years, Fred. Olsen has supported the provision of crew training, and has funded kit for the lifeboat station, as well as other RNLI lifeboat stations near the regional ports Fred. Olsen’s ships sail from, including Largs, Harwich, Gravesend, Bangor, New Brighton, Queensferry, and Tynemouth.

Andrew MacDonald, volunteer lifeboat crew member, said, ‘Fred. Olsen has always had strong ties with the RNLI, and this evening was a great way for us to thank them and their guests for their generosity and support, not just of our station, but of the RNLI as a whole.’

Rachael Jackson, Public Relations Manager for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said, ‘We would like to thank the crew at Kyle of Lochalsh for their kind hospitality and for making us so welcome during our recent visit. We never fail to be impressed by the tireless dedication and professionalism of this close-knit team, and the long-standing association between Fred. Olsen and the RNLI is one of which we are immensely proud.

‘Our new joint promotional video shows the enthusiasm of our guests and the passion of our onboard staff in their fundraising activities for the RNLI across our fleet, and we are delighted to have made such an important difference to this seafaring charity over the years.’

Notes for editors:

· During the course of the partnership, Fred. Olsen’s guests have also funded three mobile training units, three seminar rooms at The Lifeboat College in Poole in Dorset, and the development and funding of three DODO (drive-on, drive-off) lifeboat launching trolleys.

Media Contacts

For more information, please contact Jennifer Clough, RNLI Press Officer, on 01202 336789 or 07393 763780 or by email at [email protected].

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.

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