Independent lifeboats in Britain and Ireland

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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.

File:Gosport Rescue 1.jpg
Gosport Rescue

There are at least 70 (see tables below) and as many as 100[1] independent lifeboat services operating throughout Britain and Ireland, both on coasts and inland waterways. Because the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) owns and operates the majority of lifeboat stations (235 at the end of 2013[2]), smaller independent services can be overshadowed when it comes to publicity and fundraising.[3][4]

Independent services are usually funded privately and some 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 (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.

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

United Kingdom

England

Name and location Notes Image
Bay Search and Rescue
Cumbria, England		 Operates in Morecambe Bay.[8]
Beachley (SARA), River Severn
England and Wales		 Operates from under the M48 Severn Bridge.[9] Severn Area rescue Association HQ - geograph.org.uk - 609713.jpg
Birling Gap Safety Boat
East Sussex, England		 Established 1984.[10]
Blyth Rescue
Northumberland, England		 Run by the RNLI until 2005.
Subsequently independent.[11]
Boulmer Volunteer Rescue Service
Northumberland, England		 Originally funded by the Duke of Northumberland.
RNLI-run 1825-1967.
Re-established 1967.[12]		 Boulmer Haven - geograph.org.uk - 40312.jpg
Burnham Area Rescue Boat
Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, England		 Established 1992. Breanrescuehovercraft.JPG
Caister Volunteer Lifeboat Service
Caister-on-Sea, Norfolk, England		 First documented 1791.[13]
Operated by RNLI 1856-1969.
Uses both offshore and inshore lifeboats.
Registered charity.		 Caister Lifeboat Station.jpg
Cleethorpes Rescue Service
Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire, England		 Established 1969 as Cleethorpes Vigilantes Inshore Lifeboat Service.
Registered charity.[14]
Duddon Inshore Rescue
Cumbria, England		 Established 1969.
Operates on Duddon Estuary.[15]
Freshwater Bay Lifeboat
Freshwater, Isle of Wight, England		 Opened 1972.[16]
Registered charity.		 Freshwater Lifeboat Station, Isle of Wight - geograph.org.uk - 1801173.jpg
Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue
(GAFIRS)
Hampshire, England		 Established 1969. 120px
Hamble Lifeboat/Rescue
Hampshire, England		 Established 1968.[17]
Haverigg Inshore Rescue Team
Cumbria, England		 Established 1973.[18] Haverigg Inshore Rescue station - geograph.org.uk - 643437.jpg
Hayling Island Rescue
Hayling Island, Hampshire		 Established 1984.[19][20]
Hemsby Inshore Rescue Service
Norfolk, England		 Registered charity.[21] Hemsby Lifeboat Station.jpg
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. [22]		 Hope Cove lifeboat station.jpg
Hornsea Rescue
East Riding of Yorkshire, England		 Established 1994.[23] Hornsea Inshore Rescue depot.jpg
Humber Rescue
Humber Bridge, England		 Established 1990.[24] Inshore Rescue Boat Station - geograph.org.uk - 271473.jpg
Maryport Inshore Rescue
Cumbria, England		 Operated by the RNLI 1865-1949.
Re-established 1978.[25]
Mercia Inshore Search and Rescue
West Midlands, England		 Operates in the Severn, Avon and Wye valleys.[26]
Mundesley Volunteer Inshore Lifeboat
Norfolk, England		 Established 1972.[27] Mundesley Lifeboat Station Sunday 21 March 2010 (2).JPG
Portsea Rescue, Portsmouth
Hampshire, England		 [28]
Runswick Bay Rescue
North Yorkshire, England		 RNLI-run until late 1970s.
Re-established 1982.
Registered charity.[29]		 Lifeboat Station, Runswick Bay - geograph.org.uk - 521509.jpg
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.[30]
Sandown and Shanklin
Isle of Wight, England		 Run from Shanklin 1884-1916.
Now run from Sandown.		 Sandown Lifeboat House.jpg
Palling Volunteer Rescue Service
Norfolk, England		 Established 1840.
Run by the RNLI 1858-1931.
Re-established 1974.		 Sea Palling lifeboat station.jpg
Severn Area Rescue Association
(SARA)
River Severn, England and Wales		 Founded 1973.[31]
Operates 12 lifeboats from 4 stations.[32]
Registered charity.		 Severn Area rescue Association HQ - geograph.org.uk - 609713.jpg
Sharpness (SARA), River Severn
England and Wales		 Established 1986.[33] Dock Master's house, Sharpness Old Dock - geograph.org.uk - 103099.jpg
Sidmouth Independent Lifeboat
Devon, England		 Run by the RNLI 1869-1912.
Re-established 1968.[34]		 Sidmouth lifeboat station. - geograph.org.uk - 198422.jpg
Solent Rescue
Lepe, Hampshire, England		 Established 1971.[35]
See also Venturers Search and Rescue[36]		 View towards Coast Guard Cottages, Lepe - geograph.org.uk - 648389.jpg
Southport Offshore Rescue Trust
Merseyside, England		 Established early 18th century.
Run by the RNLI 1860-1925.[37]
Re-established late 1980s.[38]		 Aa Southport lifeboat station 01.jpg
Tewkesbury (SARA)
Gloucestershire, England		 Established 2008.[39]
Wyre Forest (SARA)
Shropshire/Worcestershire, England		 Established pre-2010.[40]

Northern Ireland

Name and location Notes Image
Bann Rescue (Community Rescue Service), River Bann
County Londonderry
Northern Ireland		 Established 2008.[41]
Operates on River Bann.		 Down the Bann with the "Lady Sandel" (5) - geograph.org.uk - 871123.jpg
Community Rescue Service
Northern Ireland		 Operates throughout Northern Ireland.[42]
Foyle Search & Rescue
Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland		 Established 1993.[43]
Operates on the River Foyle.		 Foyle Search and Rescue Service - geograph.org.uk - 969104.jpg
Lagan Search and Rescue
Belfast Harbour, Northern Ireland		 Deemed charity.[44]
Lough Neagh Rescue
Northern Ireland		 Established 1990.[45] Lifeboats, Lough Neagh - geograph.org.uk - 374857.jpg

Scotland

Name and location Notes Image
East Sutherland Rescue (ESRA)
Dornoch		 Established 1982.[46]
Glasgow Humane Society Lifeboat
Glasgow		 Established 1790[47]
Loch Lomond Rescue
Luss, Loch Lomond		 Established 1977.[48] Loch Lomond Rescue Boat boathouse - geograph.org.uk - 1659340.jpg
Nith Inshore Rescue
Glencaple		 Registered charity.[49]
Port William Rescue
Dumfries and Galloway		 [50] Port William Harbour 04-11-15 03.jpeg
St Abbs Lifeboat, Berwickshire Fund raising to replace RNLI boat withdrawn in September 2015[51] St Abb's Lifeboat Station - geograph.org.uk - 2550647.jpg

Wales

Name and location Notes Image
Beachley (SARA), River Severn
England and Wales		 Operates from under the M48 Severn Bridge.[52] Beachley Point - slipway looking across River Severn - geograph.org.uk - 609739.jpg
Ferryside Inshore Rescue
Carmarthenshire, Wales		 Established 1835.
Run by the RNLI until 1960.
Re-established 1966.[53]
Loughor Inshore Rescue
Swansea, Wales		 Established 1969.[54] Loughor Lifeboat Station in 2012.jpg
Severn Area Rescue Association
(SARA)
River Severn, England and Wales		 Founded 1973.[55]
Operates 12 lifeboats from 4 stations.[56]
Registered charity.		 Severn Area rescue Association HQ - geograph.org.uk - 609713.jpg
Sharpness (SARA), River Severn
England and Wales		 Established 1986.[57] Dock Master's house, Sharpness Old Dock - geograph.org.uk - 103099.jpg

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.[58]

Name and location Notes Image
Abbeyfeale District Search & Rescue
County Limerick		 Established 2004[59]
Ballinskelligs Inshore Rescue (CRBI)
County Kerry, Ireland		 Established 2008.[60]
Ballinskelligs Pier - geograph.org.uk - 989693.jpg
Ballybunion Rescue
County Kerry, Ireland		 Established 1986.[61]
Ballbunion Sea and Cliff Rescue - Atlantic 21 Launch.JPG
Ballyheigue (CRBI)
County Kerry, Ireland
Banna (CRBI)
County Kerry, Ireland
Bantry Rescue (CRBI)
County Cork, Ireland		 Established 1987.[62]
Bantry Lifeboat - geograph.org.uk - 504683.jpg
Blackwater Search & Rescue
Fermoy, County Cork		 Established 1981[63]
Blessington Reservoir
County Wicklow		 Established 2007[64]
Bonmahon (Bunmahon) (CRBI)
County Waterford, Ireland		 Established 1986.[65]
Lifeboathouse, Bonmahon - geograph.org.uk - 349390.jpg
Bunratty Search and Rescue
County Clare		 Established 1981[66]
Cahir River Rescue (River Suir)
County Tipperary		 Established 2002[67]
Cahore (CRBI)
County Wexford, Ireland		 Established 2009.[68][69]
Cahore Lifeboat House - geograph.org.uk - 917593.jpg
Carna (CRBI)
County Galway, Ireland
Carrick-on-Suir Search & Rescue
County Waterford		 River rescue service[70]
Cork River Rescue, Monkstown
County Cork		 Established 2006[71]
Corrib/Mask Lakes (CRBI)
County Galway, Ireland
Derrynane (CRBI)
County Kerry, Ireland		 Established 1995.
Pier on Derrynane Harbour - geograph.org.uk - 981144.jpg
Foxford & District Search & Rescue Unit
County Mayo		 [72]
Kilkee Marine Rescue
County Clare, Ireland		 Established 1981.
Kilkee.JPG
Killarney Water Rescue
County Kerry		 [73]
Lahinch Sea Rescue
County Clare		 [74]
Limerick City (River Shannon) (CRBI)
Ireland
Lough Foyle Rescue
Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland		 Established 1993.
Operates on the River Foyle.
Foyle Search and Rescue Service - geograph.org.uk - 969104.jpg
Mallow Search & Rescue Unit (CRBI)
County Cork		 [75]
Schull (CRBI)
County Cork, Ireland		 Established 2005.[76]
Skull Harbour - geograph.org.uk - 252062.jpg
Tramore (CRBI)
County Waterford, Ireland
Lifeboathouse, Tramore (2) - geograph.org.uk - 349365.jpg
Waterford City River Rescue (CRBI)
County Waterford, Ireland		 [77]
Waterford Marine Search and Rescue (CRBI)
County Waterford, Ireland

See also

References

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