ARBROATH RNLI had a launch with a difference this week—this time they were getting an online facelift.

With today’s RNLI at the forefront of rescue technology and innovation it was decided by the team at Arbroath that their website should reflect the age in which volunteers work, as well as letting visitors and supporters communicate with the crew and access up-to-date information.

The website is the work of two volunteers at the station, Derek Robertson and Ray Barton, with input from staff and crew.

Lifeboat sea safety officer Ray said, “This is a great new project for us, as in the past most people’s idea of the lifeboats and their crews stem back to historic times and the images in their heads usually pull up memories of crews rowing the lifeboats out to sea.

“We wanted to focus on the modern age whilst still retaining a sense of history.”

Full-time mechanic Allan Russell said, “This is a great way for the public to keep in touch with us, and now makes it a lot easier to update important information and get it across quickly.

“With addition of the crew area it will allow us to gain access to information from one central source from wherever we are in the world.”

The site—www.arbroath-lifeboat.org.uk—also gives information to local marine users with live weather and sea state data, as well as news feeds from the RNLI’s main website along with guides and tips from the RNLI Sea Safety Team.

Crew member Derek Robertson said, “There’s a lot of information on the site and it may look a bit daunting at first, but like my mum always tells me, ‘There’s a place for everything and everything in its place’—that’s why we’ve put in place lots of navigation points on the site.”

The launch came as the crew prepared for Arbroath’s largest firework show in years yesterday.

Usually they entertain the public out of their own fund on November 5, but this year Arbroath Council hosted the event, with funds going to the RNLI.