A lifesaving Mearns resource will celebrate a successful first year in operation by moving premises back to its spiritual home.
The Stonehaven RNLI lifeboat has launched a dozen times since its return to full service last August, after a 30-year absence.
Based in the ad-hoc confines of Shorehead’s Sea Cadet shed, Scotland’s newest volunteer crew have been given the good news that the boat will return to its original premises at the top of the Old Pier slipway.
Stonehaven is the 47th lifeboat station in Scotland and on a trial period for three years.
The town lost the RNLI lifeboat in 1984 and Maritime Rescue Institute took over, until the storm of 2013 forced the institute to close.
But the station looks set to become a permanent feature in the town with £90,000 funding from Nexen Petroleum UK.
The RNLI has secured new premises for the lifeboat and crew, which will mean that the boat and crew will all be able to be housed in one place, and make launching and response much quicker.
A spokesman said: “It will be great to have the lifeboat back in the old shed, albeit a bit more modern.”
Stonehaven have a B Class Atlantic 75 Inshore Lifeboat called the Jack and Joyce Burcombe.
The 7.5-metre boat usually operates closer to shore than all-weather lifeboats, in shallower water, close to cliffs, among rocks or even in caves, suitable for the Mearns coastline.
The men and women of the volunteer crew have responded to callouts ranging from searches for missing persons to righting overturned boats, to flares being seen.
A spokesman said: “No callout is the same and the crew have been trained for these.
“Our crew are prepared to drop everything and risk their lives at a moment’s notice.
“Their lifesaving work is essential, often difficult and sometimes dangerous.”
“From our lifesavers and volunteers, to our staff and supporters, we’re all ordinary people doing extraordinary things.”
Each year it costs more than £140 million to run the lifesaving service.
Lifeboat crew kit costs: gloves £10, boots £45, waterproof trousers for all-weather £249, waterproof Jacket for all-weather £349, dry suit including boots for inshore lifeboat £750, thermal under-suit for all-weather £225, thermal top £50, lifejacket for all-weather £368, and helmet £198.