Independent lifeboats in Britain and Ireland

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).

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.

In 2020 the National Independent Lifeboat Association (NILA) was formed to give independent lifeboats operators a single voice in to national conversations while remaining independent, although not all independent lifeboats are members of NILA. NILA has a seat on the UKSAR Operators group and the National Water Safety Forum.

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 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 Boat North Yorkshire, England	RNLI-run until 1978. 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]

Northern Ireland

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]

Scotland

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]

Wales

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]

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 location	Notes	Image
Jersey Lifeboat Association St Helier, Jersey	Established 2019[67]

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.^[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

See also

• List of former RNLI stations
• List of RNLI stations
• Lifeboat (rescue)
• Search and rescue (Ireland)
• Search and rescue (UK)
• List of lifeboat disasters in Britain and Ireland

References

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6. "Awareness day for independent lifeboats". The Caledonian Mercury. 26 February 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
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13. "Coast Medic". Retrieved 14 April 2019.
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27. "Humber Rescue". Retrieved 18 September 2019.
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29. "Maryport Inshore Rescue". Archived from the original on 24 June 2014. Retrieved 25 May 2014.
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51. "Foyle Search & Rescue". Retrieved 21 February 2015.
52. "Lagan Search and Rescue". Retrieved 26 May 2014.
53. "Lough Neagh Rescue". Retrieved 3 June 2014.
54. "ESRA launches fundraising drive to mark 30th anniversary". The Northern Times. 9 August 2012. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
55. "OSCR | Charity Details". www.oscr.org.uk. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
56. "Loch Lomond Rescue". Retrieved 26 May 2014.
57. "Nith Inshore Rescue". Retrieved 25 May 2014.
58. "Port William Inshore Rescue receives grant". ITV News. 2 December 2013. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
59. "Port William Inshore Rescue Service". Retrieved 14 April 2019.
60. Nisbett, Peter. "Going independent". St Abbs Lifeboat. St Abbs Lifeboat. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
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62. "Ferryside Lifeboat - History". Retrieved 25 May 2014.
63. "Loughor Inshore Lifeboat". Retrieved 16 May 2017.
64. "SARA - History". Retrieved 3 June 2014.
65. "SARA - Stations". Retrieved 25 May 2014.
66. "SARA - Sharpness". Retrieved 3 June 2014.
67. "Jersey Lifeboat". Retrieved 22 August 2023.
68. "Community Rescue Boats Ireland (CRBI)". Retrieved 17 February 2015.
69. "Abbeyfeale Search & Rescue". Archived from the original on 17 February 2015. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
70. "Ballinskelligs Inshore Rescue". Retrieved 4 June 2014.
71. "Ballybunion Sea and Cliff Rescue". Retrieved 3 June 2014.
72. Anne Lucey (15 August 2015). "Search to resume for man swept into sea at Kerry Head". Irish Times. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
73. "Banna Rescue". Retrieved 27 January 2017.
74. "Bantry Rescue". Retrieved 4 June 2014.
75. "Blackwater Sub Aqua Search & Rescue". Retrieved 17 February 2015.
76. "Blessington Rescue Boat". Archived from the original on 19 December 2014. Retrieved 17 February 2015.
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79. "New era for river rescue". The Nationalist. 4 March 2009. Archived from the original on 18 February 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
80. "Cahore Inshore Rescue Service Supporters". Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
81. "Cahore - Launching". Retrieved 3 June 2014.
82. "Carrick-on-Suir Search & Rescue". Archived from the original on 18 February 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
83. "Happy tail for Blarney pup". Cork Independent. 17 January 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
84. "Gardai confirm body recovered from River Moy is that of missing Lisacul woman". Midwest Radio. 24 March 2011. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
85. "Killarney Water and Rescue crew seek a permanent home". The Kerryman. 10 February 2010. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
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87. "Mallow Search and Rescue Unit to hold a seven mile river raft race". The Corkman. 2 March 2006. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
88. "Schull Rescue". Archived from the original on 8 February 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
89. "Waterford City River Rescue". Retrieved 3 June 2014.

External links

• National Independent Lifeboat Association