

Building our lifeboats
Discover how the RNLI builds and maintains its lifesaving fleet.
Saving lives requires craft that can tackle all the different challenges the sea throws at our lifesavers. Building and maintaining our lifeboat fleet is a vital part of our lifesaving service. Skilled technicians, engineers, mechanics and boatbuilders work 365 days a year to make sure our brave volunteers have the lifeboats they need to save lives at sea.
To ensure the vessels meet the requirements needed for our crews, we build most of our lifeboats in house at our factories in Poole and Cowes. And it’s all funded by generous support from people like you.
The lifeboat fleet
162 All-weather lifeboats
282 Inshore lifeboats
7 Hovercraft
All-weather Lifeboat Centre
The All-weather Lifeboat Centre in Poole is where we build the Shannon class lifeboat and maintain the other all-weather lifeboats in our fleet. Teams of engineers and boatbuilders work tirelessly to ensure our all-weather lifeboats are ready to launch into the roughest conditions to save lives.
Inshore Lifeboat Centre
The Inshore Lifeboat Centre in Cowes is where we build and maintain our inshore lifeboat fleet – quick and manoeuvrable lifeboats that allow the crews to get as close as possible to those in trouble.
Coastal maintenance
Keeping our lifeboats and lifesaving equipment ready to save lives is the job of our Coastal Maintenance Team. Travelling across the UK and Ireland, they work hard to keep our fleet ready to launch to the rescue.

Launch a Memory
Latest lifeboat launches
Eastbourne Lifeboat Station launched 3 hours ago

Launch time
10.58pm 3 October 2025
Lifeboat class
D-Class
Lifeboat number
D-876
Sheerness Lifeboat Station

Launch time
9.56pm 3 October 2025
Lifeboat class
Shannon
Lifeboat number
13-38
Oban Lifeboat Station

Launch time
8.24pm 3 October 2025
Lifeboat class
Shannon
Lifeboat number
13-50
Falmouth Lifeboat Station

Launch time
8.19pm 3 October 2025
Lifeboat class
Shannon
Lifeboat number
13-56
The Mumbles Lifeboat Station

Launch time
6.58pm 3 October 2025
Lifeboat class
Tamar
Lifeboat number
16-27
Tobermory Lifeboat Station

Launch time
6.00pm 3 October 2025
Lifeboat class
Severn
Lifeboat number
17-39
Bridlington Lifeboat Station

Launch time
5.00pm 3 October 2025
Lifeboat class
Shannon
Lifeboat number
13-22
Exmouth Lifeboat Station

Launch time
3.03pm 3 October 2025
Lifeboat class
D-Class
Lifeboat number
BB-697
Newquay Lifeboat Station

Launch time
2.29pm 3 October 2025
Lifeboat class
B-Class
Lifeboat number
B-936
Newquay Lifeboat Station

Launch time
2.14pm 3 October 2025
Lifeboat class
D-Class
Lifeboat number
D-773