Finnmark Brønnbåtrederi have been operating the ship ‘Simon Princess’ out of Oban this year. Their generous donation came over the festive period as they chose to break their annual tradition of giving Christmas gifts to their crew, in favour of making a donation to Oban Lifeboat.
Vebjørn Pedersen of Finnmark Brønnbåtrederi said “2020 has taught us a lot, including the importance of voluntary work that allows our society to function and keeps our crew safe. So this year, instead of the traditional Christmas presents for our crew, we chose to make a donation to Oban Lifeboat.”
“The station oversees much of the area we have been operating this year. So, we say thank you to their volunteers and at the same time, encourage our colleagues in the industry to do the same.”
It’s been a challenging year for volunteer lifeboat crews who’ve continued to launch throughout the pandemic, often risking their lives for others. Extra PPE has been required to protect them, resulting in additional costs for the RNLI.
Our thanks go to the crew of the Simon Princess and all at Finnmark Brønnbåtrederi for thinking of Oban lifeboat during this challenging year. Their donation will help ensure the continued safe running of our lifeboat and her crew.
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.
