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 80 (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).

History

Ruined remains of Formby lifeboat station

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 in Britain and Ireland

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.

United Kingdom

England

Name and locationNotesImage
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]
Blyth Rescue
Northumberland, England		Run by the RNLI until 2005.
Subsequently, independent.[10]
Boulmer Volunteer Rescue Service
Northumberland, England		Originally funded by the Duke of Northumberland.
RNLI-run 1825–1967.
Re-established 1967.[11]
Burnham Area Rescue Boat
Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, England		Established 1992.
Caister Volunteer Lifeboat Service
Caister-on-Sea, Norfolk, England		First documented 1791.[12]
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.[13]
Coast Medic
Falmouth, Cornwall		 Medical inshore lifeboat, supporting local emergency services.
Registered charity.[14]
Duddon Inshore Rescue
Cumbria, England		Established 1969.
Operates on Duddon Estuary.[15]
Felixstowe Coast Patrol
Felixstowe, Suffolk, England		Established 1997.[16][17]
Folkestone Rescue
Folkestone, Kent		 Inshore Lifeboat, supporting local emergency services.
Operates April to September, weekend daytime.
Registered Charity[18]
Freshwater Bay Lifeboat
Freshwater, Isle of Wight, England		Opened 1972.[19]
Registered charity.
Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue
(GAFIRS)
Hampshire, England		Established 1969.
Hamble Lifeboat
Hampshire, England		Established 1968.[20]
Based in River Hamble
On standby in The Solent[21]
Haverigg Inshore Rescue Team
Cumbria, England		Established 1973.[22]
Hayling Island Rescue
Hayling Island, Hampshire		Established 1984.[23][24]
Operates a single RIB (Inshore)
Hemsby Inshore Rescue Service
Norfolk, England		Registered charity.[25]
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[26]
Hornsea Rescue
East Riding of Yorkshire, England		Established 1994.[27]
Operates 1 x RIB and 1 x Jetski (Inshore)
Humber Rescue
Humber Bridge, England		Established 1990.[28]
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.[29]
Maryport Inshore Rescue
Cumbria, England		Operated by the RNLI 1865–1949.
Re-established 1978.[30]
Mercia Inshore Search and Rescue
West Midlands, England		Operates in the Severn, Avon and Wye valleys.[31]
Mundesley Volunteer Inshore Lifeboat
Norfolk, England		Established 1972.[32]
Pett Level Independent Rescue Boat
East Sussex, England		Operates in Rye bay from Pett Level.[33]
Portsea Rescue, Portsmouth
Hampshire, England		[34]
Red Seal Rescue Safety Boats
Tyne Haven, Tyneside		Founded 1967[35]
Runswick Bay Rescue
North Yorkshire, England		RNLI-run until late 1970s.
Re-established 1982.
Registered charity.[36]
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.[37]
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.[38]
Severn Area Rescue Association
(SARA)
River Severn, England and Wales		Founded 1973.[39]
Operates 19 lifeboats from 4 stations.[40]
Registered charity.
Sharpness (SARA), River Severn
England and Wales		Established 1986.[41]
Sidmouth Independent Lifeboat
Devon, England		Run by the RNLI 1869–1912.
Re-established 1968.[42]
Solent Rescue
Lepe, Hampshire, England		Established 1971.[43]
Southport Offshore Rescue Trust
Merseyside, England		Established early 18th century.
Run by the RNLI 1860–1925.[44]
Re-established late 1980s.[45]
Tewkesbury (SARA)
Gloucestershire, England		Established 2008.[46]
Ulverston Inshore Rescue
Cumbria, England		Established 2002.[47]
Wyre Forest (SARA)
Shropshire/Worcestershire, England		Established pre-2010.[48]
York Rescue Boat
York, England		Established 2014.[49]

Northern Ireland

Name and locationNotesImage
Bann Rescue (Community Rescue Service), River Bann
County Londonderry
Northern Ireland		Established 2008.[50]
Operates on River Bann.
Community Rescue Service
Northern Ireland		Operates throughout Northern Ireland.[51]
Foyle Search & Rescue
Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland		Established 1993.[52]
Operates on the River Foyle.
Lagan Search and Rescue
Belfast Harbour, Northern Ireland		Deemed charity.[53]
Lough Neagh Rescue
Northern Ireland		Established 1990.[54]

Scotland

Name and locationNotesImage
East Sutherland Rescue (ESRA)
Dornoch		Established 1982.[55]
Glasgow Humane Society Lifeboat
Glasgow		Established 1790.

Registered charity number SC001178.[56]
Loch Lomond Rescue
Luss, Loch Lomond		Established 1977.[57]
Nith Inshore Rescue
Glencaple		Established 1982.

Registered charity SC022223.[58]
Port William Inshore Rescue Service
Dumfries and Galloway		Operates 6.5m RIB, Pirsac III.
Established 1979.[59][60]
St Abbs Lifeboat, BerwickshireRegistered Charity.
Established 2016 following closure of RNLI station (September 2015).
New MST 900W SAR lifeboat named Thomas Tunnock, September 2016.[61]

Wales

Name and locationNotesImage
Beachley (SARA), River Severn
England and Wales		Operates from under the M48 Severn Bridge.[62]
Ferryside Inshore Rescue
Carmarthenshire, Wales		Established 1835.
Run by the RNLI until 1960.
Re-established 1966.[63]
Loughor Inshore Rescue
Swansea, Wales		Established 1969.[64]
Severn Area Rescue Association
(SARA)
River Severn, England and Wales		Founded 1973.[65]
Operates 12 lifeboats from 4 stations.[66]
Registered charity.
Sharpness (SARA), River Severn
England and Wales		Established 1986.[67]

Channel Islands

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.

Jersey

Name and locationNotesImage
Jersey Lifeboat Association
St Helier, Jersey		Established 2019[68]

Republic of Ireland

Some independent services come under the umbrella of Community Rescue Boats Ireland (CRBI) and are trained and administrated by Irish Water Safety.[69]

Name and locationNotesImage
Abbeyfeale District Search & Rescue
County Limerick		Established 2004[70]
Ballinskelligs Inshore Rescue (CRBI)
County Kerry, Ireland		Established 2008.[71]
Ballybunion Sea & Cliff Rescue Service (CRBI)
County Kerry, Ireland		Established 1986.[72]
Ballyheigue Sea and Cliff Rescue
County Kerry, Ireland		Operational since at least 2015[73]
Banna Rescue (CRBI)
County Kerry, Ireland		Established 1983.[74]
Bantry Rescue (CRBI)
County Cork, Ireland		Established 1987.[75]
Blackwater Search & Rescue
Fermoy, County Cork		Established 1981[76]
Blessington Reservoir
County Wicklow		Established 2007[77]
Bonmahon (Bunmahon) (CRBI)
County Waterford, Ireland		Established 1986.[78]
Bunratty Search and Rescue
County Clare		Established 1981[79]
Cahir River Rescue (River Suir)
County Tipperary		Established 2002[80]
Cahore (CRBI)
County Wexford, Ireland		Established 2009.[81][82]
Carna (CRBI)
County Galway, Ireland
Carrick-on-Suir Search & Rescue
County Waterford		River rescue service[83]
Cork River Rescue, Monkstown
County Cork		Established 2006[84]
Corrib/Mask Lakes (CRBI)
County Galway, Ireland
Derrynane (CRBI)
County Kerry, Ireland		Established 1995.
Foxford & District Search & Rescue Unit
County Mayo		[85]
Kilkee Marine Rescue
County Clare, Ireland		Established 1981.
Killarney Water Rescue
County Kerry		[86]
Lahinch Sea Rescue
County Clare		[87]
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		[88]
Schull (CRBI)
County Cork, Ireland		Established 2005.[89]
Tramore (CRBI)
County Waterford, Ireland
Waterford City River Rescue (CRBI)
County Waterford, Ireland		[90]
Waterford Marine Search and Rescue (CRBI)
County Waterford, Ireland

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Go Orange Day for Independent Lifeboats". Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  2. ↑ "RNLI: Lifeboat stations". RNLI. Archived from the original on 14 July 2018. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  3. ↑ "Island goes orange for independent lifeboats". Island Echo. 21 February 2014. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  4. ↑ "Independent lifeboat fundraising drive announced". Practical Boat Owner. 9 December 2009. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  5. ↑ "Southport Lifeboat - Early history". Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  6. ↑ "Awareness day for independent lifeboats". The Caledonian Mercury. 26 February 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  7. ↑ "Irish Lifeboats - Independent lifeboats". Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  8. ↑ "Bay Search and Rescue". Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  9. ↑ "SARA - Beachley". Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  10. ↑ "New-look Blyth lifeboat service after TV shambles". Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  11. ↑ "Two centuries of life-saving". Northumberland Gazette. 10 September 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  12. ↑ "Caister Lifeboat - History". Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  13. ↑ "Cleethorpes Rescue Service's four decades keeping people safe by the sea". Grimsby Telegraph. 28 January 2011. Archived from the original on 25 January 2015. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
  14. ↑ "Coast Medic". Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  15. ↑ "Duddon Rescue". Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  16. ↑ "Felixstowe Volunteer Coast Patrol & Rescue Service". Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  17. ↑ Cornwell, Richard (9 October 2018). "Felixstowe Volunteer Coast Patrol Rescue Service receives 'first real home'". Ipswich Star. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  18. ↑ "Folkestone Rescue". Retrieved 23 May 2019.
  19. ↑ "Freshwater Lifeboat - History". Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  20. ↑ "Hamble Lifeboat". Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  21. ↑ "Cost of living: Hamble Lifeboat scales-back patrols due to rising fuel cost". BBC News. 11 April 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022.
  22. ↑ "Haverigg Inshore Rescue". Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  23. ↑ Dunster, Frank (2014). The Confessions of Hayling Rescue. ISBN 978-1497569362.
  24. ↑ "Yacht rescue serving facing cash crisis". Yachting Monthly. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  25. ↑ "Open Charities: Hemsby Inshore Rescue Service". Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  26. ↑ "Hope Cove Lifeboat - History". Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  27. ↑ "Hornsea Rescue - History". Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  28. ↑ "Humber Rescue". Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  29. ↑ "Lancaster Area Search and Rescue". Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  30. ↑ "Maryport Inshore Rescue". Archived from the original on 24 June 2014. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  31. ↑ "Mercia Inshore Search and Rescue". Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  32. ↑ "Mundesley Lifeboat Station". Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  33. ↑ "Pett Level Independent Rescue Boat". Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  34. ↑ "Portsmouth Lifeguards". Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  35. ↑ "Red Seal Rescue". Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  36. ↑ "Runswick Rescue". Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  37. ↑ "Independent lifeboat awarded royal honour". Motor Boats Monthly. 6 June 2009. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  38. ↑ "Sea Palling independent lifeboat crew back on duty". BBC News. 9 June 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  39. ↑ "SARA - History". Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  40. ↑ "SARA - Stations". Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  41. ↑ "SARA - Sharpness". Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  42. ↑ "Sidmouth Lifeboat - About Us". Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  43. ↑ "About Solent Rescue". Archived from the original on 26 May 2014. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  44. ↑ "Southport Lifeboat - Early History". Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  45. ↑ "Southport Lifeboat - History". Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  46. ↑ "SARA - Tewkesbury". Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  47. ↑ "Ulverston Inshore".
  48. ↑ "SARA - Wyre Forest". Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  49. ↑ "York Rescue Boat". Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  50. ↑ "New service to save river lives". BBC News. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
  51. ↑ "Community Rescue Service". Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  52. ↑ "Foyle Search & Rescue". Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  53. ↑ "Lagan Search and Rescue". Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  54. ↑ "Lough Neagh Rescue". Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  55. ↑ "ESRA launches fundraising drive to mark 30th anniversary". The Northern Times. 9 August 2012. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  56. ↑ "OSCR | Charity Details". www.oscr.org.uk. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  57. ↑ "Loch Lomond Rescue". Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  58. ↑ "Nith Inshore Rescue". Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  59. ↑ "Port William Inshore Rescue receives grant". ITV News. 2 December 2013. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  60. ↑ "Port William Inshore Rescue Service". Retrieved 14 April 2019.
  61. ↑ Nisbett, Peter. "Going independent". St Abbs Lifeboat. St Abbs Lifeboat. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
  62. ↑ "SARA - Beachley". Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  63. ↑ "Ferryside Lifeboat - History". Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  64. ↑ "Loughor Inshore Lifeboat". Retrieved 16 May 2017.
  65. ↑ "SARA - History". Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  66. ↑ "SARA - Stations". Retrieved 25 May 2014.
  67. ↑ "SARA - Sharpness". Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  68. ↑ "Jersey Lifeboat". Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  69. ↑ "Community Rescue Boats Ireland (CRBI)". Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  70. ↑ "Abbeyfeale Search & Rescue". Archived from the original on 17 February 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  71. ↑ "Ballinskelligs Inshore Rescue". Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  72. ↑ "Ballybunion Sea and Cliff Rescue". Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  73. ↑ Anne Lucey (15 August 2015). "Search to resume for man swept into sea at Kerry Head". Irish Times. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
  74. ↑ "Banna Rescue". Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  75. ↑ "Bantry Rescue". Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  76. ↑ "Blackwater Sub Aqua Search & Rescue". Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  77. ↑ "Blessington Rescue Boat". Archived from the original on 19 December 2014. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  78. ↑ "Community Rescue Boats - Bonmahon". Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  79. ↑ "Bunratty Search & Rescue Annual Mass and Blessing of Boats". Retrieved 17 February 2015.
  80. ↑ "New era for river rescue". The Nationalist. 4 March 2009. Archived from the original on 18 February 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  81. ↑ "Cahore Inshore Rescue Service Supporters". Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  82. ↑ "Cahore - Launching". Retrieved 3 June 2014.
  83. ↑ "Carrick-on-Suir Search & Rescue". Archived from the original on 18 February 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  84. ↑ "Happy tail for Blarney pup". Cork Independent. 17 January 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  85. ↑ "Gardai confirm body recovered from River Moy is that of missing Lisacul woman". Midwest Radio. 24 March 2011. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
  86. ↑ "Killarney Water and Rescue crew seek a permanent home". The Kerryman. 10 February 2010. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
  87. ↑ Courtney, David (2008). Nine Lives. p. 370. ISBN 9781856356022. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  88. ↑ "Mallow Search and Rescue Unit to hold a seven mile river raft race". The Corkman. 2 March 2006. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  89. ↑ "Schull Rescue". Archived from the original on 8 February 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
  90. ↑ "Waterford City River Rescue". Retrieved 3 June 2014.
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