​Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines pays Kyle of Lochalsh RNLI a special visit!

The volunteers at Kyle of Lochalsh RNLI recently celebrated the RNLI’s 50-year partnership with Fred. Olsen, after representatives from the cruise line paid the Lifeboat Station a special visit on Monday 15^th January 2018.

Representatives from Fred. Olsen hosted a special crew night for the Kyle of Lochalsh volunteers and joined together to watch the joint promotional video that the RNLI and Fred. Olsen recently produced to celebrate the partnership, with Fred. Olsen supplying refreshments for the evening.

Kyle of Lochalsh RNLI is home to the ‘Spirit of Fred. Olsen’ lifeboat, which is the most recent of the four inshore lifeboats that Fred. Olsen’s generous guests have funded during the RNLI’s long-standing partnership with the cruise company.

Andrew MacDonald, volunteer RNLI lifeboat crewmember said:

“Fred. Olsen has always had strong ties with the RNLI, and this evening was a great way for us to thank them and their guests for their generosity and support, not just of our station, but of the RNLI as a whole.”

In recent years, Fred. Olsen has supported the provision of crew training, and has funded kit for the lifeboat station, as well as other RNLI lifeboat stations near the regional ports Fred. Olsen’s ships sail from, including Largs, Harwich, Gravesend, Bangor, New Brighton, Queensferry, and Tynemouth.

During the course of the partnership, Fred. Olsen’s guests have also funded three mobile training units, three seminar rooms at The Lifeboat College in Poole in Dorset, and the development and funding of three DODO (drive-on, drive-off) lifeboat launching trolleys.

Rachael Jackson, Public Relations Manager forFred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said:

“We would like to thank the crew at Kyle of Lochalsh for their kind hospitality and for making us so welcome during our recent visit. We never fail to be impressed by the tireless dedication and professionalism of this close-knit team, and the long-standing association between Fred. Olsen and the RNLI is one of which we are immensely proud.

“Our new joint promotional video shows the enthusiasm of our guests and the passion of our onboard staff in their fundraising activities for the RNLI across our fleet, and we are delighted to have made such an important difference to this seafaring charity over the years.”

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, from 237 lifeboat stations. Additionally, the RNLI operates a lifeguard service on over 220 beaches around the UK.

You can view the new joint Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines / RNLI video online at http://www.fredolsencruises.com/rnli

Photo caption: Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines' Rachael Jackson and Sandy Murray of Kyle of Lochalsh RNLI celebrate the two organisations' long-standing partnership, with Atlantic 85-class lifeboat 'Spirit of Fred. Olsen'

For further information on Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, visit the website at www.fredolsencruises.com To find out more about the RNLI, visit https://rnli.org