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Seabirds-and-Seals is an award-winning business and goes from strength to strength, leading the way as a top Wildlife Boat Tour Attraction.  We are delighted to be working in collaboration with local businesses as well as some fabulous names in the photography/film sector from all over the globe.  We are a ‘Natural’ born and bred Shetland couple….our experience and knowledge of boats, the sea, nature, and local heritage around us is extensive.  Our passengers tell us that our fun, personal and engaging style appeals to all ages and varying interests – always a crew member available on deck delivering a professional service and answering any questions.  What better boat to showcase this all on than ‘The Noss Boat – Seabird’, which hosts a huge viewing platform all on one level – allowing everyone to enjoy fabulous 360° panoramic viewing.  This is an ideal boat for everyone to move around comfortably to get the best action shots – free as a bird.  Plus the comfort of the inside heated cabin, should anyone need to shelter from the elements.

Simon King is a world renowned Naturalist and wildlife film maker – we loved watching his ‘Shetland Diaries’ series and other productions.  He has worked on countless productions as presenter, producer, director and cameraman.  Productions include Big Cat Diary, Springwatch, Autumnwatch and Winterwatch, Countryfile, Blue Planet, Planet Earth and much more.  

Simon has been coming to Shetland for years now and his films have put Shetland on the bucket lists of ecotourists all over the world – it is so great to have him back on the Island and working in collaboration with Seabirds-and-Seals for the 2022 season to offer bespoke tours to his many fabulous guests.  We look forward to working with him for many years to come.  

Quoted by Simon King following a bespoke tour with partner Kim and guests on Monday 20th June:
“Thank you so much for two super runs to Noss over the past couple of weeks. All guests were thrilled by the trips and very impressed by you and Brian’s geniality, knowledge and humour”. 

To learn more about Simon’s early life, his many awards and much visit: https://www.simonkingwildlife.com/about-simon-2/

Sharing some photos taken by Bob Kerr who assists Lerwick Lifeboat Station with their social media listings and news.  We were invited to assist Lerwick Lifeboat with a towing exercise on the evening of Thursday 14^th April and it was our pleasure as always.  This training exercise provided valuable experience for all crew, allowing them to practice important skills such as safely attaching tow lines, taking a boat under tow and manoeuvring a boat without power alongside a safe berth in the harbour . 

Come July it will be two years since Lerwick lifeboat crew members celebrated the 90^th anniversary of the station’s first lifeboat ‘The Lady Jane & Martha Ryland’.  The 51ft ‘Barnett-class’ lifeboat was named by the Duchess of Montrose in June 1932 as a crowd of over 2,000 people looked on.  With two 60-horsepower petrol engines, and a top-speed of just under nine knots, the Barnett-class was the most powerful RNLI lifeboat in production at the time.

The above named lifeboat was then replaced with another Barnett-class lifeboat (Mk II) – ‘The Claude Cecil Staniforth’, which arrived in Lerwick in 1958 and remained in service for 20 years until 1978.  This was then replaced with Arun-class lifeboat ‘Soldian’ which serviced from 1978 until 1997, when the current Severn-class ‘Michael and Jane Vernon’ took up service.

The current 17-metre (56 feet) all-weather lifeboat is the largest and most powerful in the RNLI’s fleet, with two “MTU” engines that produce up to 1600 horsepower, a top speed of 25 knots and a range of 250 nautical miles.

Over the years, the many coxwain’s and volunteer crews of Lerwick Lifeboat have been decorated for several extraordinary rescue operations, they have won many awards for their outstanding bravery, saving over 800 lives.  Their service has been recognised with 62 RNLI Gallantry Awards.    

The RNLI is a charitable organisation and with water all around our islands, they need all the support they can get.  The Lerwick Lifeboat Station has a shop which can be accessed via Commercial Street.  You can pick up the perfect gift or souvenir, they have homewares, clothing, tasty treats, toys, greeting cards and much much more.  The shop is run by volunteers, and all profits help save lives at sea.

#RNLI #savinglivesatsea #respectthewater #lerwicklifeboat