Despite being nearly 188 years old, the lifeboat service never stands still

How do you decide where to locate a lifeboat station and what kind of craft should be housed there? That’s the job of the RNLI’s Coast Review team. They assess the ever changing maritime life of these isles and decide what part the RNLI should play. They consult widely and visit each existing station every 5 years, to ensure we’re meeting search and rescue needs while making best use of donations.

In the past 20 years alone, the RNLI has established 45 new lifeboat stations and closed 3. Most recently, in November last year, South Broads Lifeboat Station in Suffolk closed. This year, new stations are to open for a trial period at Leverburgh, Isle of Harris (photo 1) in the Outer Hebrides and Lough Ree on the River Shannon. The location of stations is inextricably linked with the lifeboats available – their range, speed and capabilities – compared with the type of incidents encountered.

RNLI Operations Director Michael Vlasto explains: 'We don’t take the decision to close a lifeboat station lightly but our review clearly showed that, by closing South Broads and reinforcing Great Yarmouth and Gorleston, introducing an Inshore Rescue Boat, we can improve our lifesaving service to the public. The main launch sites will be more accessible, meaning we can extend cover to a much wider area.'

The Inshore Rescue Boat (5) is a boat more familiar to lifeguards than lifeboat crew. It maintains speed and manoeuvrability in shallow and confined waters. Light in weight, it is easier to handle and can be deployed rapidly from a towed trailer. The decision has the support of Yarmouth Coastguard Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, and The Broads Authority, which implements the Port Marine Safety Code there.

Meanwhile, formal representations were made to the RNLI by the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland, with support from lake users and various statutory bodies including the Coast Guard, for a ‘declared’ search and rescue asset on Lough Ree. RNLI Inspector for Ireland, Martyn Smith, comments: ‘We were impressed with the level of interest and engagement from everyone we encountered.

‘Lough Ree is the only major lake on the Shannon that lacks a dedicated search and rescue presence. It has a significant amount of marine traffic passing through, as it’s an intersection on the Shannon–Erne navigation route.

‘We will initially operate a B class Atlantic 75 lifeboat from temporary facilities. The lifeboat will come from the relief fleet and a decision will be taken following the year-long trial whether to establish a permanent station.’

The Scottish trial will involve a Mersey class all-weather lifeboat, to improve the cover between Stornoway, Barra and Portree. Volunteers are already coming forward to crew the lifeboat, operate the station and raise funds for operating costs.

Work to update stations and lifeboats in 2011 included:

Red Bay’s new Atlantic 85 lifeboat (B-843) was officially named Geoffrey Charles on 28 May 2011. She was funded by Roger and Judith Colmer in memory of their son who saved many lives when a tsunami struck the Phi Phi islands in Thailand during 2004. Roger and Judith's grandson, Edward, is shown 'Christening' the new lifeboat (3).

HRH The Princess Royal named Bembridge’s new Tamar class Alfred Albert Williams (ON-1297, 16-17) on 10 August. A couple from Oxfordshire made a significant donation to fund this lifeboat in memory of their close friend.

Construction of a new Atlantic 85 boathouse at Queensferry, under the Forth railway bridge, is nearing completion. The new lifeboat (B-851) was named Jimmie Cairncross by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh on 11 August 2011.

Atlantic 85 Tony and Robert Britt (B-849) went on station at Burnham-on-Crouch on 11 August. Mrs Patricia Britt officially named the lifeboat after her sons on 15 October. B-733 has been withdrawn.

Relief lifeboats James Dugdale (B-845) and Edna May (B-850) were named at RNLI College on 31 October 2011 and D class Myway (D-745) joined the relief fleet on 30 August.

Planning consent was granted for Baltimore’s forthcoming Tamar class lifeboat to be moored afloat. It's hoped that dredging work for her berth will begin in January 2012.

On 8 September, Random Harvest (B-852) went on station at Brighton (B-737 has been withdrawn) and D class Laurence and Percy Hobbs (D-744) went on service at Eastbourne. D-605 has been withdrawn.

Tamar class Rose went operational from her new home under the cliffs at The Lizard (2), on 6 October. This is the ninth and most challenging to date of the 13 Tamar slipway stations to be commissioned. The remaining four at Moelfre, Porthdinllaen, St Davids and The Mumbles are planned for construction in 2012–14.

Hunstanton’s new lifeboat station extension was officially opened on 22 October. The station’s new B class lifeboat (B-848) was named Spirit of West Norfolk by Gerry Tan and Melissa Derby (6), in recognition of the local community that raised the funds.

The first of a new generation of E class lifeboats was officially named Hurley Burly by donor Kay Hurley at Tower Lifeboat Station on 31 October (4). The Mk2 design updates the existing class, which has been in operation at three lifeboat stations on the Thames since they were established in 2001.

The pontoon berth and shore facilities at Montrose, the Aran Islands and Castletownbere are progressing. A new floating boathouse for the Fenit D class lifeboat is complete (7).

Construction of a new hovercraft ramp adjacent to Southend-on-Sea’s famous pier is pending. This will be followed by the rebuilding of the station’s boathouse.

We look forward to featuring facilities for the Shannon class lifeboat, due to enter operational service in 2013. Meanwhile, you can keep up with developments in RNLI Compass, on our website at rnli.org.uk and via Facebook and Twitter.