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.

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]
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]
Burnham Area Rescue Boat Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, England	Established 1992.
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.
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.
Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue (GAFIRS) Hampshire, England	Established 1969.
Hamble Lifeboat/Rescue Hampshire, England	Established 1968.[17]
Haverigg Inshore Rescue Team Cumbria, England	Established 1973.[18]
Hayling Island Rescue Hayling Island, Hampshire	Established 1984.[19][20]
Hemsby Inshore Rescue Service Norfolk, England	Registered charity.[21]
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]
Hornsea Rescue East Riding of Yorkshire, England	Established 1994.[23]
Humber Rescue Humber Bridge, England	Established 1990.[24]
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]
Portsea Rescue, Portsmouth Hampshire, England	[28]
Runswick Bay Rescue North Yorkshire, England	RNLI-run until late 1970s. Re-established 1982. Registered charity.[29]
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.
Palling Volunteer Rescue Service Norfolk, England	Established 1840. Run by the RNLI 1858-1931. Re-established 1974.
Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA) River Severn, England and Wales	Founded 1973.[31] Operates 12 lifeboats from 4 stations.[32] Registered charity.
Sharpness (SARA), River Severn England and Wales	Established 1986.[33]
Sidmouth Independent Lifeboat Devon, England	Run by the RNLI 1869-1912. Re-established 1968.[34]
Solent Rescue Lepe, Hampshire, England	Established 1971.[35] See also Venturers Search and Rescue[36]
Southport Offshore Rescue Trust Merseyside, England	Established early 18th century. Run by the RNLI 1860-1925.[37] Re-established late 1980s.[38]
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.
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.
Lagan Search and Rescue Belfast Harbour, Northern Ireland	Deemed charity.[44]
Lough Neagh Rescue Northern Ireland	Established 1990.[45]

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]
Nith Inshore Rescue Glencaple	Registered charity.[49]
Port William Rescue Dumfries and Galloway	[50]
St Abbs Lifeboat, Berwickshire	Fund raising to replace RNLI boat withdrawn in September 2015[51]

Wales

Name and location	Notes	Image
Beachley (SARA), River Severn England and Wales	Operates from under the M48 Severn Bridge.[52]
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]
Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA) River Severn, England and Wales	Founded 1973.[55] Operates 12 lifeboats from 4 stations.[56] Registered charity.
Sharpness (SARA), River Severn England and Wales	Established 1986.[57]

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]
Ballybunion Rescue County Kerry, Ireland	Established 1986.[61]
Ballyheigue (CRBI) County Kerry, Ireland
Banna (CRBI) County Kerry, Ireland
Bantry Rescue (CRBI) County Cork, Ireland	Established 1987.[62]
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]
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]
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.
Foxford & District Search & Rescue Unit County Mayo	[72]
Kilkee Marine Rescue County Clare, Ireland	Established 1981.
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.
Mallow Search & Rescue Unit (CRBI) County Cork	[75]
Schull (CRBI) County Cork, Ireland	Established 2005.[76]
Tramore (CRBI) County Waterford, Ireland
Waterford City River Rescue (CRBI) County Waterford, Ireland	[77]
Waterford Marine Search and Rescue (CRBI) County Waterford, Ireland

See also

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

References

1. "Go Orange Day for Independent Lifeboats". Retrieved 25 May 2014.
2. RNLI 2013 - Annual Report and Accounts (PDF). RNLI. 2013. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
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. "Birling Gap Safety Boat - History". Retrieved 26 May 2014.
11. "New-look Blyth lifeboat service after TV shambles". Retrieved 2 June 2014.
12. "Two centuries of life-saving". Northumberland Gazette. 10 September 2012. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
13. "Caister Lifeboat - History". Retrieved 25 May 2014.
14. "Cleethorpes Rescue Service's four decades keeping people safe by the sea". Grimsby Telegraph. 28 January 2011. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
15. "Duddon Rescue". Retrieved 2 June 2014.
16. "Freshwater Lifeboat - History". Retrieved 25 May 2014.
17. "Hamble Lifeboat". Retrieved 25 May 2014.
18. "Haverigg Inshore Rescue". Retrieved 21 February 2015.
19. Dunster, Frank (2014). The Confessions of Hayling Rescue. ISBN 978-1497569362.
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22. "Hope Cove Lifeboat - History". Retrieved 1 September 2015.
23. "Hornsea Rescue - History". Retrieved 26 May 2014.
24. "Humber Rescue". Retrieved 25 May 2014.
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26. "Mercia Inshore Search and Rescue". Retrieved 26 May 2014.
27. "Mundesley Lifeboat Station". Retrieved 25 May 2014.
28. "Portsmouth Lifeguards". Retrieved 3 June 2014.
29. "Runswick Rescue". Retrieved 26 May 2014.
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32. "SARA - Stations". Retrieved 25 May 2014.
33. "SARA - Sharpness". Retrieved 3 June 2014.
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35. "About Solent Rescue". Retrieved 25 May 2014.
36. "Lepe Inshore Rescue". Retrieved 25 May 2014.
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38. "Southport Lifeboat - History". Retrieved 25 May 2014.
39. "SARA - Tewkesbury". Retrieved 3 June 2014.
40. "SARA - Wyre Forest". Retrieved 3 June 2014.
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43. "Foyle Search & Rescue". Retrieved 21 February 2015.
44. "Lagan Search and Rescue". Retrieved 26 May 2014.
45. "Lough Neagh Rescue". Retrieved 3 June 2014.
46. "ESRA launches fundraising drive to mark 30th anniversary". The Northern Times. 9 August 2012. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
47. "Glasgow Humane Society - History". Retrieved 16 November 2015.
48. "Loch Lomond Rescue". Retrieved 26 May 2014.
49. "Nith Inshore Rescue". Retrieved 25 May 2014.
50. "Port William Inshore Rescue receives grant". ITV News. 2 December 2013. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
51. Nisbett, Peter. "Going independent". St Abbs Lifeboat. St Abbs Lifeboat. Retrieved 2016-03-18.
52. "SARA - Beachley". Retrieved 3 June 2014.
53. "Ferryside Lifeboat - History". Retrieved 25 May 2014.
54. "Loughor Inshore Lifeboat - History". Retrieved 25 May 2014.
55. "SARA - History". Retrieved 3 June 2014.
56. "SARA - Stations". Retrieved 25 May 2014.
57. "SARA - Sharpness". Retrieved 3 June 2014.
58. "Community Rescue Boats Ireland (CRBI)". Retrieved 17 February 2015.
59. "Abbeyfeale Search & Rescue". Retrieved 17 February 2015.
60. "Ballinskelligs Inshore Rescue". Retrieved 4 June 2014.
61. "Ballybunion Sea and Cliff Rescue". Retrieved 3 June 2014.
62. "Bantry Rescue". Retrieved 4 June 2014.
63. "Blackwater Sub Aqua Search & Rescue". Retrieved 17 February 2015.
64. "Blessington Rescue Boat". Retrieved 17 February 2015.
65. "Community Rescue Boats - Bonmahon". Retrieved 4 June 2014.
66. "Bunratty Search & Rescue Annual Mass and Blessing of Boats". Retrieved 17 February 2015.
67. "New era for river rescue". The Nationalist. 4 March 2009. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
68. "Cahore Inshore Rescue Service Supporters". Retrieved 3 June 2014.
69. "Cahore - Launching". Retrieved 3 June 2014.
70. "Carrick-on-Suir Search & Rescue". Retrieved 18 February 2015.
71. "Happy tail for Blarney pup". Cork Independent. 17 January 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
72. "Gardai confirm body recovered from River Moy is that of missing Lisacul woman". Midwest Radio. 24 March 2011. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
73. "Killarney Water and Rescue crew seek a permanent home". The Kerryman. 10 February 2010. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
74. Courtney, David (2008). Nine Lives. p. 370. ISBN 9781856356022. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
75. "Mallow Search and Rescue Unit to hold a seven mile river raft race". The Corkman. 2 March 2006. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
76. "Schull Rescue". Retrieved 4 June 2014.
77. "Waterford City River Rescue". Retrieved 3 June 2014.