

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
160 All-weather lifeboats
281 Inshore lifeboats
7 Hovercrafts
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 – the workhorses of the RNLI.
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
Walmer Lifeboat Station launched 31 minutes ago

Launch time
12.58pm 1 July 2025
Lifeboat class
D-Class
Lifeboat number
D-794
Brighton Lifeboat Station

Launch time
12.41pm 1 July 2025
Lifeboat class
B-Class
Lifeboat number
B-852
Swanage Lifeboat Station

Launch time
11.57am 1 July 2025
Lifeboat class
D-Class
Lifeboat number
D-752
Calshot Lifeboat Station

Launch time
11.36am 1 July 2025
Lifeboat class
B-Class
Lifeboat number
B-860
Plymouth Lifeboat Station

Launch time
11.35am 1 July 2025
Lifeboat class
Severn
Lifeboat number
17-35
Eastbourne Lifeboat Station

Launch time
11.27am 1 July 2025
Lifeboat class
Trent
Lifeboat number
14-15
Plymouth Lifeboat Station

Launch time
10.04am 1 July 2025
Lifeboat class
B-Class
Lifeboat number
B-908
Porthcawl Lifeboat Station

Launch time
9.45am 1 July 2025
Lifeboat class
B-Class
Lifeboat number
B-832
Porthcawl Lifeboat Station

Launch time
9.43am 1 July 2025
Lifeboat class
D-Class
Lifeboat number
D-755
Newcastle Lifeboat Station

Launch time
9.37am 1 July 2025
Lifeboat class
D-Class
Lifeboat number
D-775