Nith Inshore Rescue has selected an Ineos Grenadier as its new search and rescue vehicle for operation in the Upper Solway and surrounding areas.
Jointly funded by the Coastal Communities Fund and St John Scotland, this is the first blue-light emergency response Grenadier in the UK and replaces the charity’s aged Land Rover Defender.
The British-designed 4×4 Grenadier features a full box-section ladder frame chassis, with heavy-duty solid beam axles, a two-speed transfer case and up to three locking differentials.
Practical features include a 70:30 split rear door, integrated roof bars, pre-wiring for auxiliary lamps and accessories, and a front bumper to sit on.
Specialist search and rescue equipment provider Emergency One took advantage of the Grenadier’s ‘plug-and-play’ wiring set-up to customise the vehicle with the kit specified by Nith Inshore Rescue’s team.
This included a powerful extendable roof-mounted camera.
Nith Inshore Rescue, one of the busiest lifeboat stations in Scotland, is based near Dumfries, on the estuary of the River Nith close to where it joins the Solway Firth.
Its volunteers aim to protect life and property under threat from the sea, inland water, flooding and other water related incidents.
Peter Bryden, secretary of Nith Inshore Rescue said: “We deal with life-and-death situations, very harsh weather, and challenging terrain, so when it came to evaluating the options for a new support vehicle, there were few options and the Grenadier stood out, ticking all the boxes.
“We were very impressed with the way it has been engineered and built to last, as well as how straightforward it was to convert it for this role.”
