RNLI announce changes to its lifeboat fleet in the south west

The change in lifeboats at Ilfracombe, Appledore and Salcombe over the next two years will allow the charity to respond effectively to the changing way people are using the coast and ensure volunteer crew can save the greatest number of lives and keep our people safe.

The following changes, which are part of a wider organisational wide lifeboat fleet strategy to be rolled out in 2026/2027, will take place in the south west;

• Ilfracombe will receive an Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat, one of the fastest lifeboats in the RNLI fleet and suitable for the types of services the volunteer crew respond to. The Atlantic will replace the station’s current Shannon class all weather lifeboat The Barry and Peggy High Foundation (ON1316)

• Appledore will be allocated a D class inshore lifeboat replacing the Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat Glanely (B 861), to support incidents up the river

• Appledore will also receive a Shannon class all weather lifeboat to replace the current Tamar class all weather lifeboat Mollie Hunt (ON1296).

• Salcombe RNLI will receive a new Shannon class lifeboat which will replace the station’s current Tamar class lifeboat The Baltic Exchange III (ON 1289)

Use of the sea around the UK is changing - RNLI data shows more people are using the coast for recreational purposes such as open water swimming and paddleboarding, so the majority of incidents the RNLI responds to are closer to shore (98% are within 10 nautical miles of the shore) compared to years ago when demand was to commercial fishing further off shore.

As sea use around the UK changes, the RNLI must ensure it has the most appropriate lifeboats in the right places. A key part of the RNLI’s consideration has been seeking to better understand what capabilities are needed from the RNLI’s lifeboat fleet and which lifeboats could deliver these capabilities. The work to answer these questions has drawn on a combination of in-depth data, insights and specialist knowledge.   This has enabled options to be explored and decisions made around the fleet configuration required to meet different scenarios.

A total of twenty lifeboat stations out of the 238 which operate around the UK and Ireland are impacted, primarily, like at Salcombe and Appledore, with changes from one class of all-weather lifeboat to another. Hastings, Lytham St Annes and Ilfracombe will all move from a Shannon all weather lifeboat to an Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat.

The Atlantic 85 is one of the fastest in the fleet with a top speed of 35 knots. It is designed for rescues close to shore, near cliffs and rocks and can operate in force 7 near gale winds in daylight and force 6 at night.

At Ilfracombe the new Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat will be suited for the types of services the crew respond to and will work alongside the station’s D class and flanking all weather lifeboats at Appledore and Barry Dock allowing RNLI volunteers to respond to incidents along this stretch of coast.

From Appledore, the Shannon all weather lifeboat will be in a strategic position to provide all weather lifeboat cover to flanking inshore lifeboat stations at Minehead, Ilfracombe and Clovelly, respond to major incidents on the North Devon coast, and provide lifesaving cover up to 75 nautical miles offshore into the Bristol Channel.

Adrian Carey, RNLI Head of Region for the south west, says;

‘With around 97% of RNLI service calls requiring the capabilities of an inshore lifeboat, they are an essential part of the lifeboat fleet. We are confident the Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat is the most suitable asset for the types of services Ilfracombe attend. The configuration of inshore and all-weather lifeboats on the North Devon coast, from Clovelly to Ilfracombe and up to Minehead, with additional cover from the stations in Wales, will ensure our volunteer lifeboat crew can respond to all lifesaving incidents on this important stretch of the Bristol Channel.

‘At Salcombe the new, state of the art, modern Shannon class all weather lifeboat will work alongside the station’s Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat to provide lifesaving cover on the south Devon coast.

‘We understand the impact of any change on our people, our staff and our communities and are committed to supporting them through this change. As a charity, it is essential we use donors money wisely and allocate the most appropriate resources to save the greatest number of lives in the most effective way.

‘We acknowledge the incredible support the stations and volunteers receive from their local communities, and we hope it will continue as we adapt the pattern of lifeboats around the coast of the UK and Ireland to the changing nature of lifesaving.’

The lifeboat fleet strategy is not about one individual lifeboat station and looks across the whole of the charity’s lifeboat configuration. The strategy has established principles through a response to the changing way people are using the coastline and establishing the capabilities and requirements of all weather lifeboats to inform decisions on where lifeboats will be placed.  

Decisions on later years have not been confirmed but will be guided by the principles of the strategy. When deciding on the laydown of lifeboats at a station the RNLI considers the capabilities across flanking stations and other search and rescue services to meet the lifesaving demand. 

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.’

Notes to Editors

• Stock images of Shannon class and an Atlantic 85 lifeboat attached

• The RNLI has also announced changes to the charity’s all weather lifeboat fleet in the Channel Islands, as part of the charity’s fleet strategy. Over the next three years, RNLI lifeboat crews in Alderney, St Peter Port and St Helier will receive the newest, state of the art, modern Shannon class all weather lifeboat which will replace each station’s current all weather lifeboats. More information in the specific Channel Island’s press release here (LINK)

Information on the RNLI’s lifeboat fleet strategy

• The RNLI has reviewed and adjusted our lifeboat fleet and laydown over the next 15 years to meet the changing needs of our volunteers, supporters and communities we serve. Through in-depth data, insights and specialist knowledge careful consideration has been sought to understand what capabilities are needed from the RNLI’s lifeboat fleet and which lifeboats could deliver these capabilities.

• Compelling data, provided by RNLI lifeboat crews, lifeguards and partners over many years shows that the majority of incidents the charity’s lifeboats are responding to require the capabilities of an inshore lifeboat. 98% of the RNLI’s lifeboat response is within 10 nautical miles of the shore, 1.8% is between 10 and 25 nautical miles and just 0.2% of incidents the RNLI responds to are at a range greater than 25 nautical miles from the shore.

Information on the Atlantic 85

• Atlantic 85 (B class) inshore lifeboats are built and maintained at the RNLI Inshore Lifeboat Centre at East Cowes on the Isle of Wight. Named after Atlantic College in Wales where these rigid inflatable lifeboats (RIBs) were first developed. 85 represents its length – nearly 8.5m. It is one of the fastest in the RNLI fleet with a top speed of 35 knots. Although she’s an inshore lifeboat, designed to operate in shallower water, the B class can handle challenging open sea conditions too and is designed to operate safely in near gale conditions.

• The B class lifeboat is ideal for rescues close to shore, near cliffs and rocks – areas inaccessible to all-weather lifeboats and is also capable of being beached in an emergency without sustaining damage to her engines.

• The speed, manoeuvrability, agility and versatility of these RIBs dramatically improved the efficiency and effectiveness of the RNLI’s search and rescue service and have helped RNLI volunteers to save thousands of lives at sea.

Information on the Shannon class all weather lifeboat

• The Shannon is the latest class of all-weather lifeboat to join the RNLI fleet. Designed entirely in house by a team of RNLI engineers and built at the RNLI’s all weather lifeboat centre in Poole, Dorset, the charity harnessed cutting-edge technology to ensure this new lifeboat meets the demands of a 21st century rescue service.

• The Shannon is propelled by water jets rather than traditional propellers, making it extremely manoeuvrable and agile. It also has other features which makes it an ideal lifeboat for the types of incidents the crew respond to, including the operating a system which allows each crew member access to navigational and systems information from any position within the wheelhouse, making it the most versatile vessel in the RNLI’s fleet.