Located near Dumfries at the estuary of the River Nith, where it meets the Solway Firth, Nith Inshore Rescue is one of Scotland’s busiest lifeboat stations. The charity’s volunteers work to protect life and property from threats such as sea, inland water, flooding, and other water-related incidents in the Upper Solway and surrounding areas. When called by the HM Coastguard Rescue Co-ordination Centre, they deploy their lifeboat, search and rescue vehicle, and essential equipment.
With joint funding from the Coastal Communities Fund and St John Scotland, Nith Inshore Rescue has taken delivery of the UK’s first blue-light emergency response Ineos Grenadier, replacing their aging Land Rover Defender. The vehicle was unveiled alongside the charity’s fully refurbished St John lifeboat. Emergency One, a specialist search and rescue equipment provider, used the Grenadier’s ‘plug-and-play’ wiring system to customize the vehicle, adding a powerful extendable roof-mounted camera, named Jonny Five after the robot from Short Circuit.
Peter Bryden, secretary of Nith Inshore Rescue, shared, “We handle life-and-death situations in harsh weather and tough terrain, so when we looked for a new support vehicle, the Grenadier was the standout choice. It checked all the boxes, and we’re impressed with its durability and how easily it was converted for our needs. We expect this vehicle, along with our revamped lifeboat, to serve us for the next 40 years.”
Nith Inshore Rescue is supported by a dedicated team of 24 volunteers. It assists police, ambulance, RNLI, and mountain rescue services with front-line search and rescue operations. The charity responds to around 30 callouts a year, making it one of Scotland’s busiest stations. Founded in 1981 after a local drowning, the service was established to provide crucial rescue support for the community.
With the Ineos Grenadier now in service, the retired Land Rover Defender, no longer needed for active duty, will be auctioned off to raise funds for the rescue service.