Five Fraserburgh RNLI crew receive Lifesaving Operations Director commendations
Five Fraserburgh RNLI volunteer crew members have received Lifesaving Operations Director Commendations from Jill Hepburn, Head of Region, for a service in which four fishermen were rescued after their boat struck rocks at Cairnbulg and sank in poor weather in 2022.
Declan Sutherland, Grant Morrison, Stuart Ross, Jordan Morrice, and Mark Ritchie received the awards from Jill Hepburn at the Fraserburgh Lifeboat station in front of many of their fellow crew members in late August 2024.
Four other members of the Fraserburgh RNLI crew had previously received awards from the Duke of Kent for the same service, which was featured on BBC’s Saving Lives at Sea programme.
His Royal Highness had visited Fraserburgh RNLI earlier in the year and had presented three Chair Letters of Thanks to Coxswain Ethan Haris and crew members Stephen Brown and Shane Richardson, and a Chief Executive’s Commendation to Davy Sutherland, for the part they played in the rescue of the four fishermen from the vessel that grounded and subsequently sank in October 2022.
Jill Hepburn, Head of Region, visited Fraserburgh RNLI lifeboat on the evening of 29 August 2024 and said she was delighted to be in Fraserburgh to recognise some of our crew; Declan, Grant, Stuart, Jordan and Mark and present them with Lifesaving Operations Director Commendations.
Jill thanked Ian, James and Vic and all for giving her the honour of presenting the awards, before speaking a little about the awards themselves.
‘Whether they were for long service, excellence in volunteering, recognition of service, or any other awards.... ‘ Jill said ‘these are special and reflect all your collective effort and time working together. These awards will mean something different to each of you, but I hope that when you are hanging your certificate on the wall or reading your citation on your letter of thanks that you just take a few moments to reflect and give yourself some thanks for all that you do.
‘These awards represent, in part, the 200 years of collective effort that your forebears have been selflessly doing in order to help others in the name of the RNLI. When you do have your private moment of reflection, be proud of these awards and think of the good times.’
Jill then mentioned the team at Fraserburgh.
‘You'll be well aware of the strength of 'one crew' in that we are all lifesavers and all fundraisers, and you all demonstrate the effective of this as one joined up team, whether that be the seagoing team, the officials, the fundraisers, shop volunteers, the press team, or the water safety volunteers and more. Without each of you doing what you do together, we would not have such a strong team here.” She said and then thanked everyone.
Jill said they were there that evening to recognise Declan Sutherland (mechanic) Grant Morrison, Stuart Ross, Jordan Morrice and Mark Ritchie for their rescue of the 4 crew from the 22m fishing vessel Ocean Maid after she ran aground on the Cairnbulg Beacon on 24 October 2022, and she talked a little bit more about seagoing crew.
‘There are things that the Crew see and do, conditions that they experience and events that take place that frankly no one should see,’ Jill told the audience ‘and Fraserburgh has had more than its share of tragedy’. That is why it is important for us to recognise the selflessness, the courage, the dependability, and the trustworthiness of those who are closest to the sharp end of what is often the challenging business of search and rescue operations. You are humble people, and I sincerely thank you for your lifesaving effort.’
‘Now, none of us could do what we do without the dedication and support of the most important part of the team - our friends, families, loved ones and partners. ‘My partner and I are acutely aware of the demands of being on call and leaving - or being left behind, and we both suffer the vagaries of either me heading off at sometimes short notice to the coast or him off on the latest exercise often in foreign climes.
‘But so much of what families do to support us all is unseen, unheard, unappreciated, and so very personal. So, from me- thank you all - take that message back to the loved ones who are not here tonight - and in fact these awards are as much for them as they are for those receiving them. Likewise, our partners in search and rescue - HMCG rescue teams and coordination centres, helicopters, ambulance crews, police and hospitals - we can't do what we do without them all and without the Fraserburgh community support.
‘And finally, this year we celebrate our 200th anniversary, where we reflect on and commemorate the past, celebrate the present and look to inspire the next generation of lifesavers and fundraisers to ensure that we are still here in Fraserburgh for another 200 years.
‘You are clearing the path for the next generations who will keep your seas and coastlines safe - and who knows what the latest on or in water activity will be and what technology we will have at our disposal, to maybe make our lives and our SAR effectiveness that little bit easier.’
Jill then handed over to Vic Sutherland full time Fraserburgh Lifeboat Coxswain/Mechanic, who read the citation.
‘The Service
On the morning of 24 October 2022, the 22 metre fishing vessel Ocean Maid ran aground at the Cairnbulg Beacon outside Fraserburgh Harbour. Her crew immediately contacted HM Coastguard and raised the alarm.
Four RNLI crew were already on station preparing to passage the lifeboat RNLB Willie and May Gall, to Macduff for maintenance when the Mayday alert was received. Given the perilous location of the casualty vessel, the Coxswain realised there was immediate risk to life and additional crew were paged.
Launching on service at 0555, weather conditions were poor with strong winds, heavy seas and waves of up to four metres. HM Coastguard provided an update that the Ocean Maid crew had abandoned their vessel and were now in a liferaft near the rocks, presenting a grave danger.
The lifeboat proceeded at best speed in darkness. On arrival, it was observed that the liferaft was too close to the rocks to attempt a rescue from the Trent class lifeboat and therefore, the daughter craft XP boat was the only viable option.
After consulting with the crew, crewmembers Stephen Brown and Shane Richardson volunteered to crew the XP boat. With the Trent class lifeboat providing shelter, the XP boat was launched and towed the liferaft clear of the rocks.
The four casualties were brought aboard suffering from the effects of shock and hypothermia. With the casualties and the liferaft secured, the lifeboat made best speed back to her berth where casualty care continued. The lifeboat subsequently relaunched to monitor the casualty vessel which sank later that day.
Throughout the service all crew onboard demonstrated exceptional teamwork, courage and seamanship during which 4 lives were saved’
Jill Hepburn, Head of Scottish Region then presented Lifesaving Operations Director Commendations to
Declan Sutherland, Mechanic
Grant Morrison, Crew and Trainee Navigator
Stuart Ross, Crew
Jordan Morrice, Crew and Deputy Mechanic
Mark Ritchie, Crew
Notes to editors
Fraserburgh lifeboat station has been operating since 1858. To learn more about the lifeboat station go to: https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/fraserburgh-lifeboat-station
RNLI media contacts
Stephen Hadden, Lifeboat Press Officer, [email protected]
Billy Watson, Lifeboat Press Officer, [email protected]
Stuart Fenty, Lifeboat Press Officer, [email protected]
Natasha Rushby, RNLI Regional Media Officer for Scotland, 07826 900639, [email protected]
Martin Macnamara, RNLI Regional Media Manager for Scotland, 07920 365929, [email protected]
RNLI Press Office, 01202 336789
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.
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