Aberdeen Lifeboat Station

Aberdeen Lifeboat Station is located at the entrance to Victoria Dock, in the harbour city of Aberdeen, in the historic county of Aberdeenshire.

A lifeboat was first stationed here in 1802 by the Aberdeen Shipmasters' Society, taken over by the Abderdeen Harbour Commissioners in 1810. The management of the station was transferred to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1925.



The station currently operates a Severn-class All-weather lifeboat, the 17-24 Bon Accord (ON 1248), since 2000, and a D-class Inshore lifeboat, the Buoy Woody 85N (D-830), since 2018.

History
In a great storm of January 1800, a considerable number of ships were wrecked off the Aberdeenshire coast. This prompted moves for a lifeboat in Aberdeen. However, public donations failed to be sufficient, and it was Alexander Baxter of Glassel, Lord Rector of Marischal College, who would fund the first lifeboat for the Aberdeen Shipmasters' Society.

A 10-oared lifeboat was constructed built by Henry Greathead of South Shields, arriving in Aberdeen in 1802. Only one boat of this type survives to this day, and is on display at Zetland lifeboat museum in Redcar.

The lifeboat was stationed at Footdee, on the north side on the entrance to Aberdeen harbour, at the mouth (or foot) of the River Dee. The first lifeboat house is marked next to the Observatory (Port Entrance Control Tower) at Abercromby Jetty on Thomas Telford's map of 1828. A later one appears on the 1865 map, larger, and nearer to the Pilot Square houses. By 1901, two lifeboat houses were in operation, one at the north corner of North Square, Footdee, and a second boathouse, on the landing jetty at Lower Quay.

In 1923, the RNLI brought a motor-lifeboat to Aberdeen on demonstration. At this time, one of the lifeboats still in use at Aberdeen was 70 years old. After much discussion, the lifeboats and equipment of Aberdeen Harbour Commissioners were handed over to the RNLI on 1 January 1925.



A 34-foot Self-righting lifeboat was placed at the No.2 station at North Square, Footdee in 1925, the Robert and Ellen Robson (ON 669). She would later serve at Whitby from 1947, the last Pulling and Sailing lifeboat (one with oars and sail) on service with the RNLI. The boat has been restored, and currently is on display at the RNLI Lifeboat Museum at Whitby.

Between 1924 and 1962, the No.2 station boat was launched on service only seven times, the majority of calls being taken by the larger No.1 station lifeboat. The No.2 station was formally closed on 23 April 1962. After some years unused, and a period with the Royal Naval Auxiliary Service, the building was later demolished.

Back in 1825, a 40-foot Watson-class (P&S) lifeboat was placed temporarily at the No.1 station, the William Roberts (ON 505), but this boat was soon replaced with a motor-powered 60-foot Barnett lifeboat, Emma Constance (ON 693), one of only three of this type and size to enter service with the RNLI. Too large to be housed in a boathouse, from this time, the No.1 station lifeboat would be permanently afloat.

In 2000, the Aberdeen station would receive their sixth 'afloat' lifeboat, the RNLB 17-24 Bon Accord (ON 1248).

Station honours
The following are awards made at Aberdeen.


 * RNLI Gold Medal
 * Lt. Henry Randall, RN, H.M. Coastguard - 1825


 * RNLI Silver Medal
 * Lt. John Procter Sanderson, RN, H.M. Coastguard - 1830
 * Lt. Thomas William Langton, RN, H.M. Coastguard - 1830


 * James Robinson, Steam Tug Owner - 1844


 * Thomas Marshall Sinclair, Coxswain - 1937


 * Thomas Marshall Sinclair, Coxswain - 1937 (Second-Service clasp)


 * Albert William Bird, Coxswain - 1974
 * Ian Jack, Motor Mechanic - 1974


 * RNLI Bronze Medal
 * Thomas Marshall Sinclair, Coxswain - 1936


 * Alexander Weir, Mechanic - 1937
 * John Masson, crew member - 1937


 * George Alan Flett, Second Coxswain - 1937
 * Robert James Brown Esson, Acting Motor Mechanic - 1937


 * Charles Begg, Second Coxswain - 1976


 * The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum
 * George Alan Flett, Second Coxswain - 1937
 * James Cowper, Second Assistant Mechanic - 1937
 * Robert James Brown Esson, Assistant Mechanic - 1937
 * John M Noble, crew member - 1937
 * Alexander S Masson, crew member - 1937


 * George Alan Flett, Coxswain - 1953


 * George Alan Flett, Coxswain - 1956


 * George Walker, Assistant Mechanic - 1974
 * F. Cruickshank, crew member - 1974
 * A. Walker, crew member - 1974


 * Ian Jack, Motor Mechanic - 1976


 * Member, Order of the British Empire (MBE)
 * William Grieve Deans, Lifeboat Operations Manager - 2018QBH


 * British Empire Medal
 * Rebecca Allen - 2024KBH

Launch and recovery tractors (Aberdeen No.2)

 * Station Closed, 23 April 1962