Ex-RNLI lifeboat to serve Pentland Firth wildlife excursions

An all-weather lifeboat formerly operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station at Llandudno, Wales, is set to begin its new role as a wildlife-watching vessel on the Pentland Firth between mainland Scotland and the Orkney Islands this coming spring.

Recently sold out of the RNLI fleet after almost 30 years’ service, the former Andy Pearce has been renamed Njord after the Norse god associated with wealth, the sea, and seafarers.

Ex-Andy Pearce/Njord will operate out of the small harbour at Burwick on the Orkney island of South Ronaldsay. It will bring wildlife-watching tourists to the teeming seabird communities and huge seal colonies on the Pentland Skerries and the offshore island of Swona.