Arbroath got its first look at the high-tech future of lifeboat services when a Shannon-class all-weather boat came to town.
The volunteer crew at Arbroath lifeboat station were delighted to be told of the replacement for its current Mersey class boat in April last year.
Launch and recovery trials of a visiting Shannon, which cost £1.5 million to build, were set to take place this week ahead of a new boat being delivered.
These trials were rescheduled at short notice, but crew members took the opportunity to take Angus councillors on a tour around the RNLB Storm Rider while it was in harbour.
Lifeboat operations manager Alex Smith said the new boat is “a big step up” for his crew in terms of speed and technology.
“Performance-wise it’s absolutely fantastic,” he said.
“It’s fast at 25 knots, so we can get to the casualties even quicker than before.
“And there’s no propellers it’s jet-driven so it can’t get fouled up.
“Once we get the trials done, and they are successful, we will work in conjunction with the council to move the station to the west side of the harbour.
“We’re really grateful they’ve been on our side.”
Arbroath’s sister shed in Montrose will be the first in Scotland to receive a Shannon-class boat this year, following an RNLI coast review.
SNP councillor Alex King said the prospect of a new boat “underlines” the town’s importance as a frontline rescue centre.
“It’s a new boat and they’ll require a new shed and new way of launching it,” he said.
“I have seen this boat demonstrated at Montrose lifeboat station and it was totally amazing.
“This boat can spin on its axis it can go sideways.
“She’s got the power to get in and out of situations quickly and safely.”
Arbroath independent councillor Ewan Smith welcomed the “state of the art” boat.
He added: “The hope is that it doesn’t have to be launched but it’s a great feeling to know it’s there in an emergency.”
The Shannon is the latest class of all-weather lifeboat to join the RNLI fleet and the first to be propelled by water jets instead of traditional propellers.
The class will gradually replace Mersey and Tyne lifeboats.