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 80 and as many as 100 independent lifeboat services operating throughout Britain and Ireland, both on coasts and inland waterways.
Because the Royal National Lifeboat Institution owns and operates the majority of lifeboat stations, smaller independent services can be overshadowed when it comes to publicity and fundraising.
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.
History
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. 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 because there is no umbrella organisation except for some stations in Ireland and the River Severn area. 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, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. 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. Operates All Terrain Vehicles | |
| Beachley, River Severn England and Wales | Operates from under the M48 Severn Bridge. | |
| Blyth Rescue Northumberland, England | Run by the RNLI until 2005. Subsequently, independent. | |
| Boulmer Volunteer Rescue Service Northumberland, England | Originally funded by the Duke of Northumberland. RNLI-run 1825-1967. Re-established 1967. | |
| Burnham Area Rescue Boat Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, England | Established 1992. | |
| Caister Volunteer Lifeboat Service Caister-on-Sea, Norfolk, England | First documented 1791. 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. | |
| Coast Medic Falmouth, Cornwall | Medical inshore lifeboat, supporting local emergency services. Registered charity. | |
| Duddon Inshore Rescue Cumbria, England | Established 1969. Operates on Duddon Estuary. | |
| Felixstowe Coast Patrol Felixstowe, Suffolk, England | Established 1997. | |
| Folkestone Rescue Folkestone, Kent | Inshore Lifeboat, supporting local emergency services. Operates April to September, weekend daytime. Registered Charity | |
| Freshwater Bay Lifeboat Freshwater, Isle of Wight, England | Opened 1972. Registered charity. | |
| Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue Hampshire, England | Established 1969. | |
| Hamble Lifeboat/Rescue Hampshire, England | Established 1968. | |
| Haverigg Inshore Rescue Team Cumbria, England | Established 1973. | |
| Hayling Island Rescue Hayling Island, Hampshire | Established 1984. Operates a single RIB | |
| Hemsby Inshore Rescue Service Norfolk, England | Registered charity. | |
| 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. | |
| Hornsea Rescue East Riding of Yorkshire, England | Established 1994. Operates 1 x RIB and 1 x Jetski | |
| Humber Rescue Humber Bridge, England | Established 1990. | |
| 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. | |
| Maryport Inshore Rescue Cumbria, England | Operated by the RNLI 1865-1949. Re-established 1978. | |
| Mercia Inshore Search and Rescue West Midlands, England | Operates in the Severn, Avon and Wye valleys. | |
| Mundesley Volunteer Inshore Lifeboat Norfolk, England | Established 1972. | |
| Pett Level Independent Rescue Boat East Sussex, England | Operates in Rye bay from Pett Level. | |
| Portsea Rescue, Portsmouth Hampshire, England | ||
| Runswick Bay Rescue North Yorkshire, England | RNLI-run until late 1970s. Re-established 1982. Registered charity. | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| Severn Area Rescue Association River Severn, England and Wales | Founded 1973. Operates 19 lifeboats from 4 stations. Registered charity. | |
| Sharpness, River Severn England and Wales | Established 1986. | |
| Sidmouth Independent Lifeboat Devon, England | Run by the RNLI 1869-1912. Re-established 1968. | |
| Solent Rescue Lepe, Hampshire, England | Established 1971. | |
| Southport Offshore Rescue Trust Merseyside, England | Established early 18th century. Run by the RNLI 1860-1925. Re-established late 1980s. | |
| Tewkesbury Gloucestershire, England | Established 2008. | |
| Ulverston Inshore Rescue Cumbria, England | Established 2002. | |
| Wyre Forest Shropshire/Worcestershire, England | Established pre-2010. | |
| York Rescue Boat York, England | Established 2014. |
Northern Ireland
| Name and location | Notes | Image |
| Bann Rescue, River Bann County Londonderry Northern Ireland | Established 2008. Operates on River Bann. | |
| Community Rescue Service Northern Ireland | Operates throughout Northern Ireland. | |
| Foyle Search & Rescue Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland | Established 1993. Operates on the River Foyle. | |
| Lagan Search and Rescue Belfast Harbour, Northern Ireland | Deemed charity. | |
| Lough Neagh Rescue Northern Ireland | Established 1990. |
Scotland
| Name and location | Notes | Image |
| East Sutherland Rescue Dornoch | Established 1982. | |
| Glasgow Humane Society Lifeboat Glasgow | Established 1790. Registered charity number SC026990. | |
| Loch Lomond Rescue Luss, Loch Lomond | Established 1977. | |
| Nith Inshore Rescue Glencaple | Registered charity. | |
| Port William Inshore Rescue Service Dumfries and Galloway | Operates 6.5m RIB, Pirsac III. Established 1979. | |
| St Abbs Lifeboat, Berwickshire | Registered Charity. Established 2016 following closure of RNLI station. New MST 900W SAR lifeboat named Thomas Tunnock, September 2016. |
Wales
Republic of Ireland
Some independent services come under the umbrella of Community Rescue Boats Ireland and are trained and administrated by Irish Water Safety.| Name and location | Notes | Image |
| Abbeyfeale District Search & Rescue County Limerick | Established 2004 | |
| Ballinskelligs Inshore Rescue County Kerry, Ireland | Established 2008. | |
| Ballybunion Rescue County Kerry, Ireland | Established 1986. | |
| Ballyheigue Sea and Cliff Rescue County Kerry, Ireland | Operational since at least 2015 | |
| Banna Rescue County Kerry, Ireland | Established 1983. | |
| Bantry Rescue County Cork, Ireland | Established 1987. | |
| Blackwater Search & Rescue Fermoy, County Cork | Established 1981 | |
| Blessington Reservoir County Wicklow | Established 2007 | |
| Bonmahon County Waterford, Ireland | Established 1986. | |
| Bunratty Search and Rescue County Clare | Established 1981 | |
| Cahir River Rescue County Tipperary | Established 2002 | |
| Cahore County Wexford, Ireland | Established 2009. | |
| Carna County Galway, Ireland | ||
| Carrick-on-Suir Search & Rescue County Waterford | River rescue service | |
| Cork River Rescue, Monkstown County Cork | Established 2006 | |
| Corrib/Mask Lakes County Galway, Ireland | ||
| Derrynane County Kerry, Ireland | Established 1995. | |
| Foxford & District Search & Rescue Unit County Mayo | ||
| Kilkee Marine Rescue County Clare, Ireland | Established 1981. | |
| Killarney Water Rescue County Kerry | ||
| Lahinch Sea Rescue County Clare | ||
| Limerick City Ireland | ||
| Lough Foyle Rescue Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland | Established 1993. Operates on the River Foyle. | |
| Mallow Search & Rescue Unit County Cork | ||
| Schull County Cork, Ireland | Established 2005. | |
| Tramore County Waterford, Ireland | ||
| Waterford City River Rescue County Waterford, Ireland | ||
| Waterford Marine Search and Rescue County Waterford, Ireland |