70th call out for Oban RNLI Lifeboat
Oban lifeboat launched yesterday afternoon (Saturday 5 October) for the 70th time this year.
Oban lifeboat 'Mora Edith MacDonald' launched yesterday afternoon following reports of a possible flare sighting in Connel. The volunteer crew arrived on scene shortly after launching and proceeded to search the immediate area as well as further into Loch Etive. With nothing found they were stood down and proceeded back to Oban.
This marks the 70th call out of the year for Oban lifeboat, which is turning out to be one of the busiest years since the Trent class lifeboat arrived on station in 1997.
Oban lifeboat is often one of the busiest single all-weather lifeboat stations in Scotland. Willie Melville documented in his book ‘The Story of Oban Lifeboat’ that ‘Mora Edith MacDonald’ made history by reaching 101 launches in 1998. Willie wrote “Not only had it exceeded 100 launches for the first time but established an all-time record for the number of launches at a station where there was no inshore lifeboat in addition to the all-weather boat."
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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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
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