Independent lifeboat services in Britain and Ireland began to be established around the coasts towards the end of the 18th century in response to the loss of life at sea. More recently, independent services have been set up in response to the increasing popularity of coastal and river sport and leisure activities.
There are at least 84 (see tables below) and as many as 100 [1] independent lifeboat services operating throughout Britain and Ireland, both on coasts and inland waterways, comprising around a quarter of the lifeboat services in the UK and Ireland.
Because the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) owns and operates the majority of lifeboat stations (238 in 2018 [2] ), smaller independent services can be overshadowed when it comes to publicity and fundraising. [3] [4]
Independent services are usually funded privately and most are registered charities; most operate 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Many currently-independent, RNLI-adopted and lapsed services pre-date the RNLI (founded 1824 as the National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck).
The first recorded independent lifeboat service was established in 1776 at Formby, 7 miles south of Southport, where there is still an independent lifeboat service (see table). [5] Many early lifeboat stations were taken under the wing of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution after its foundation in 1824 and throughout the 19th and 20th centuries.
Few early stations retained their independence; some were closed by the RNLI many years after takeover, according to the local needs at the time, and of these some were re-established as independent services, sometimes years later. A few 20th century independent services were started up in response to the rapid increase in popularity and affordability of aquatic sport and leisure activities such as swimming, boating, windsurfing, angling and diving.
It has not been established how many independent lifeboat services there are (2014) because there is no umbrella organisation except for some stations in Ireland and the River Severn area (see table below). All, though, are crewed by volunteers and equipped with boats ranging from retired RNLI lifeboats to state-of-the-art boats paid for by fundraising campaigns.
Independent lifeboat services are spread across England, Wales, Scotland, [6] Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. [7] Some are primarily inland rescue services.
Note: Some services appear twice where they cover border areas.
Name and location | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|
Bay Search and Rescue Cumbria, England | Operates in Morecambe Bay. [8] Operates All Terrain Vehicles (Onshore) | |
Beachley, River Severn Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA) England and Wales | Operates from under the M48 Severn Bridge. [9] | |
Boulmer Volunteer Rescue Service Northumberland, England | Originally funded by the Duke of Northumberland. RNLI-run 1825–1967. Re-established 1967. [10] | |
Burnham Area Rescue Boat Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, England | Established 1992. | |
Caister Volunteer Lifeboat Service Caister-on-Sea, Norfolk, England | First documented 1791. [11] Operated by RNLI 1856–1969. Uses both offshore and inshore lifeboats. Registered charity. | |
Cleethorpes Rescue Service Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, England | Established 1969 as Cleethorpes Vigilantes Inshore Lifeboat Service. Registered charity. [12] | |
Coast Medic Falmouth, Cornwall | Medical inshore lifeboat, supporting local emergency services. Registered charity. [13] | |
Duddon Inshore Rescue Cumbria, England | Established 1969. Operates on Duddon Estuary. [14] | |
Felixstowe Coast Patrol Felixstowe, Suffolk, England | Established 1997. [15] [16] | |
Folkestone Rescue Folkestone, Kent | Inshore Lifeboat, supporting local emergency services. Operates April to September, weekend daytime. Registered Charity [17] | |
Freshwater Bay Lifeboat Freshwater, Isle of Wight, England | Opened 1972. [18] Registered charity. | |
Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue (GAFIRS) Hampshire, England | Established 1969. | |
Hamble Lifeboat Hampshire, England | Established 1968. [19] Based in River Hamble On standby in The Solent [20] | |
Haverigg Inshore Rescue Team Cumbria, England | Established 1973. [21] | |
Hayling Island Rescue Hayling Island, Hampshire | Established 1984. [22] [23] Operates a single RIB (Inshore) | |
Hemsby Inshore Rescue Service Norfolk, England | Registered charity. [24] | |
Hope Cove Life Boat South Hams, Devon, England | Established 1878. RNLI-operated until 1930. Managed by Maritime Coastguard Agency 1960 - 2010. Hope Cove Lifeboat Ltd 2010. Registered charity number 1140126 2011 [25] | |
Hornsea Rescue East Riding of Yorkshire, England | Established 1994. [26] Operates 1 x RIB and 1 x Jetski (Inshore) | |
Humber Rescue Humber Bridge, England | Established 1990. [27] | |
Lancaster Area Search and Rescue Lancashire, England | Founded 2018 follow devastating floods in Lancaster Area. The team is affiliated to SLSGB as a Flood Rescue Team. [28] | |
Maryport Inshore Rescue Cumbria, England | Operated by the RNLI 1865–1949. Re-established 1978. [29] | |
Mercia Inshore Search and Rescue West Midlands, England | Operates in the Severn, Avon and Wye valleys. [30] | |
Mundesley Volunteer Inshore Lifeboat Norfolk, England | Established 1972. [31] | |
Pett Level Independent Rescue Boat East Sussex, England | Operates in Rye bay from Pett Level. [32] | |
Portsea Rescue, Portsmouth Hampshire, England | Operational since 1933 [33] | |
Red Seal Rescue Safety Boats Tyne Haven, Tyneside | Founded 1967 [34] | |
Runswick Bay Rescue North Yorkshire, England | RNLI-run until late 1970s. Re-established 1982. Registered charity. [35] | |
Ryde Inshore Rescue Service Isle of Wight, England | Established 1858. RNLI-run 1894–1923. Re-established 1956. 2 inshore lifeboats. Queen's Award for Voluntary Service 2009. [36] | |
Sandown and Shanklin Isle of Wight, England | Run from Shanklin 1884–1916. Now run from Sandown. | |
Sea Palling Volunteer Rescue Service Norfolk, England | Established 1840. Run by the RNLI 1858–1931. Re-established 1974. [37] | |
Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA) River Severn, England and Wales | Founded 1973. [38] Operates 19 lifeboats from 4 stations. [39] Registered charity. | |
Sharpness (SARA), River Severn England and Wales | Established 1986. [40] | |
Sidmouth Lifeboat Devon, England | Run by the RNLI 1869–1912. Re-established 1968. [41] | |
Solent Rescue Lepe, Hampshire, England | Established 1971. [42] | |
Southport Offshore Rescue Trust Merseyside, England | Established early 18th century. Run by the RNLI 1860–1925. [43] Re-established late 1980s. [44] | |
Tewkesbury (SARA) Gloucestershire, England | Established 2008. [45] | |
Ulverston Inshore Rescue Cumbria, England | Established 2002. [46] | |
Wyre Forest (SARA) Shropshire/Worcestershire, England | Established pre-2010. [47] | |
York Rescue Boat York, England | Established 2014. [48] |
Name and location | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|
Bann Rescue (Community Rescue Service), River Bann County Londonderry Northern Ireland | Established 2008. [49] Operates on River Bann. | |
Community Rescue Service Northern Ireland | Operates throughout Northern Ireland. [50] | |
Foyle Search & Rescue Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland | Established 1993. [51] Operates on the River Foyle. | |
Lagan Search and Rescue Belfast Harbour, Northern Ireland | Deemed charity. [52] | |
Lough Neagh Rescue Northern Ireland | Established 1990. [53] |
Name and location | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|
East Sutherland Rescue (ESRA) Dornoch | Established 1982. [54] | |
Glasgow Humane Society Lifeboat Glasgow | Established 1790. Registered charity number SC001178. [55] | |
Loch Lomond Rescue Luss, Loch Lomond | Established 1977. [56] | |
Nith Inshore Rescue Glencaple | Established 1982. Registered charity SC022223. [57] | |
Port William Inshore Rescue Service Dumfries and Galloway | Operates 6.5m RIB, Pirsac III. Established 1979. [58] [59] | |
St Abbs Lifeboat, Berwickshire | Registered Charity. Established 2016 following closure of RNLI station (September 2015). New MST 900W SAR lifeboat named Thomas Tunnock, September 2016. [60] |
Name and location | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|
Beachley (SARA), River Severn England and Wales | Operates from under the M48 Severn Bridge. [61] | |
Ferryside Inshore Rescue Carmarthenshire, Wales | Established 1835. Run by the RNLI until 1960. Re-established 1966. [62] | |
Loughor Inshore Rescue Swansea, Wales | Established 1969. [63] | |
Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA) River Severn, England and Wales | Founded 1973. [64] Operates 12 lifeboats from 4 stations. [65] Registered charity. | |
Sharpness (SARA), River Severn England and Wales | Established 1986. [66] |
Whilst the Channel Islands are not part of the UK (they are Crown dependencies) they are included here because of their proximity to Britain and Ireland with their location in the English Channel and by virtue of the RNLI's coverage, which includes Jersey, Guernsey and Alderney.
Name and location | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|
Jersey Lifeboat Association St Helier, Jersey | Established 2019 [67] |
Some independent services come under the umbrella of Community Rescue Boats Ireland (CRBI) and are trained and administrated by Irish Water Safety. [68]
Name and location | Notes | Image |
---|---|---|
Abbeyfeale District Search & Rescue County Limerick | Established 2004 [69] | |
Ballinskelligs Inshore Rescue (CRBI) County Kerry, Ireland | Established 2008. [70] | |
Ballybunion Sea & Cliff Rescue Service (CRBI) County Kerry, Ireland | Established 1986. [71] | |
Ballyheigue Sea and Cliff Rescue County Kerry, Ireland | Operational since at least 2015 [72] | |
Banna Rescue (CRBI) County Kerry, Ireland | Established 1983. [73] | |
Bantry Rescue (CRBI) County Cork, Ireland | Established 1987. [74] | |
Blackwater Search & Rescue Fermoy, County Cork | Established 1981 [75] | |
Blessington Reservoir County Wicklow | Established 2007 [76] | |
Bonmahon (Bunmahon) (CRBI) County Waterford, Ireland | Established 1986. [77] | |
Bunratty Search and Rescue County Clare | Established 1981 [78] | |
Cahir River Rescue (River Suir) County Tipperary | Established 2002 [79] | |
Cahore (CRBI) County Wexford, Ireland | Established 2009. [80] [81] | |
Carna (CRBI) County Galway, Ireland | ||
Carrick-on-Suir Search & Rescue County Waterford | River rescue service [82] | |
Cork River Rescue, Monkstown County Cork | Established 2006 [83] | |
Corrib/Mask Lakes (CRBI) County Galway, Ireland | ||
Derrynane (CRBI) County Kerry, Ireland | Established 1995. | |
Foxford & District Search & Rescue Unit County Mayo | [84] | |
Kilkee Marine Rescue County Clare, Ireland | Established 1981. | |
Killarney Water Rescue County Kerry | [85] | |
Lahinch Sea Rescue County Clare | [86] | |
Limerick City (River Shannon) (CRBI) Ireland | ||
Lough Foyle Rescue Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland | Established 1993. Operates on the River Foyle. | |
Mallow Search & Rescue Unit (CRBI) County Cork | [87] | |
Schull (CRBI) County Cork, Ireland | Established 2005. [88] | |
Tramore (CRBI) County Waterford, Ireland | ||
Waterford City River Rescue (CRBI) County Waterford, Ireland | [89] | |
Waterford Marine Search and Rescue (CRBI) County Waterford, Ireland |
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is the largest of the lifeboat services operating around the coasts of the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man, as well as on some inland waterways.
The Southport and St Anne's lifeboats disaster, commonly known as the Mexico disaster after the ship involved, occurred on the evening of the 9th December 1886. In all, 27 lifeboat men lost their lives trying to save the crew of the ship.
The D-class (IB1) lifeboats are inflatable boats serving in the RNLI inshore lifeboat (ILB) fleet as well as a number of Independent Lifeboats around the UK and Ireland. Although they are known as the "IB1" at times, they are the latest development of the D-class lifeboat and as such are mainly referred to as a "D-class".
Since its inception, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has provided lifeboats to lifeboat stations in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA) or Severn Rescue is an independent, marine and land based, search and rescue organisation covering the Severn Estuary and upper reaches of the River Severn. SARA is the largest independent lifeboat service in the UK, second only to the RNLI, with 22 operational inshore lifeboats, 20 vehicles and approximately 200 personnel. They receive no funding from the RNLI.
A rescue lifeboat is a boat rescue craft which is used to attend a vessel in distress, or its survivors, to rescue crew and passengers. It can be hand pulled, sail powered or powered by an engine. Lifeboats may be rigid, inflatable or rigid-inflatable combination-hulled vessels.
Gosport Lifeboat Station is a volunteer-operated independent lifeboat station charity located in the village of Alverstoke on the peninsula of Gosport in the English county of Hampshire. Owned and operated by Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue Service (GAFIRS), it operates free lifeboat services in the Solent from Portsmouth Harbour to Titchfield Haven, on the approaching shores of Southampton Water. GAFIRS is a charity registered in England and Wales (1159681).
Burnham-on-Sea Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations at Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset in England. A lifeboat was stationed in the town from 1836 until 1930. The present station was opened in 2003. It operates two inshore lifeboats (ILBs), a B-Class rigid-inflatable boat and an inflatable D-Class.
Burnham Area Rescue Boat (BARB), also known as BARB Search & Rescue, is a voluntary independent search and rescue service, formed in 1992 in Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset that operates two rescue hovercraft and two inshore rescue boats in the Bridgwater Bay area. It is a registered charity.
Skegness Lifeboat Station is a lifeboat station located in the town of Skegness, Lincolnshire, England, operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). The station is located on the seafront of the south-east coast, north of the Wash and south of the Humber Estuary. This area of the British coastline is characterised by many shoals and constantly changing sandbanks, many of which lie between the town and the East Dudgeon Lightship. The building dates from 1990 and was the first in the British Isles constructed especially for a Mersey-class lifeboat. The boathouse also accommodates an Inshore Lifeboat and a souvenir shop.
Hayling Island Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution station located on Hayling Island in the English county of Hampshire, on the eastern side of the island at the entrance to Chichester Harbour where it joins the major shipping route of the Solent, and is opposite the village of West Wittering. This major shipping route is busy at all times of the year and there are estimated to be 10,000 boats in the Chichester area alone. The Hayling Island station provides cover for the area 24 hours a day, all year, by means of two inshore rigid inflatable lifeboats placed on this station.
Selsey Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station located in Selsey, West Sussex on the south coast of England.
Littlehampton Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) station in the town of Littlehampton, in West Sussex, on the south coast of England. The station is on the harbour side on the eastern bank of the River Arun, a quarter mile from the harbour entrance and the pier. The current lifeboat house on Fisherman's Quay was built in 2002. The lifeboat station currently operates with two inshore lifeboats: a B-class lifeboat, Renee Sherman (B-891) and a D-class (IB1) lifeboat, Ray of Hope (D-769).
Ryde Inshore Rescue Service is a voluntary run lifeboat station located in the town of Ryde on the Isle of Wight. Ryde Inshore Rescue is an independent lifeboat station within the United Kingdom. It is not part of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and does not receive funding from the RNLI or the government.
Calshot Lifeboat Station is located on Calshot Spit near the village of Calshot, Hampshire, and is on the southern bank of the open end of Southampton Water, on the south coast of England. The station is owned and operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and operates two inshore lifeboats: an B-class and a D-class (IB1).
Aberystwyth Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat station in the coastal resort of Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, West Wales. It was established in 1861, but there has been a lifeboat serving the town since 1843.
Portishead Lifeboat Station opened in 1995 as Portishead Lifeboat Trust, an independent lifeboat operating from Sugar Loaf Bay. It was adopted by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 2015 when a new lifeboat station was opened adjacent to Portishead Pier.
Southport Offshore Rescue Trust (SORT) is the registered charity that runs the Southport Independent Lifeboat, a marine and land based search and rescue organisation on the Sefton coastline.
Barmouth Lifeboat Station is located in Barmouth, a town at the mouth of the Afon Mawddach river in Gwynedd, Wales. A lifeboat was first stationed here by the Royal National Institute for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck (RNIPLS) in 1828.