Hastings RNLI evolving to meet lifesaving demand

This decision has been made as part of a wider strategy across the charity ensuring it has the most appropriate lifeboats in the right places which will save the greatest number of lives and keep our people safe.

Sea use around the UK is changing. More people are using the coast for recreational purposes such as open water swimming and paddleboarding, so the vast majority of recues are closer to shore, when historically lifeboat calls were to commercial fishermen further offshore.

Craig Maltby, RNLI area operations manager, said: ‘We are committed to supporting Hastings through this change. We are confident the Mk 4 Atlantic class lifeboat is the most suitable asset to serve this area of the coastline.

‘We acknowledge the generosity of the local community at Hastings for which we are incredibly grateful. We hope that their support will continue as we adapt our lifeboats around the coast of the UK and Ireland to the changing nature of lifesaving.’

The new Atlantic Mk 4 will modernise the current A85 in the RNLI's fleet to better support lifeboat crew and casualties. It is designed for rescues close to shore, near cliffs and rocks and can operate in force 7 near-gale force winds in daylight and force 6 at night.

Twenty lifeboat stations out of the 238 which operate around the UK and Ireland will see changes as a result of the new strategy to be rolled out in 2026/2027, primarily with changes from one type of lifeboat to another.

Hastings, Ilfracombe and Lytham St Annes will all move from a Shannon to an Atlantic 85 lifeboat.

Peter Sparkes, RNLI Chief Executive, said: ‘For over 200 years, the RNLI has been a charity with a simple mission, to save lives at sea. Clear evidence shows the nature of lifesaving is changing, at a time when demand for our vital service is increasing – we must respond to this.

‘If the RNLI is going to save even more lives, our lifeboat and lifeguard services must continue to adapt to these changing needs, we have a responsibility to spend our donor’s money in the right areas and where it will best meet the changing nature of lifesaving demand. Our lifeboat fleet strategy provides us with the principles and information to make these decisions.

‘We have reviewed and adjusted our lifeboat fleet and the placement of our lifeboats to meet the changing needs of our volunteers, supporters and communities we serve

‘We need to have confidence that the decisions we make now set us on a sustainable trajectory that is appropriate for the changing nature of lifesaving demand. This is fundamental if we are to achieve our goal of a future-fit, sustainable lifesaving service that keeps our people safe and enables us to save every one we can.’

The lifeboat fleet strategy is not about one individual lifeboat station and looks across the whole of the charity’s lifeboat configuration.

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,700 lives.

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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.