See the lifeboats behind the rescues at charity's new visitor centre

The Visitor and Heritage Centre depicts the history of the charity at the East Cowes site, and visitors can learn about how the charity’s D class and Atlantic 85 class lifeboats are built, by going on a free tour of the site.

Up to 50 inshore lifeboats are built at the Inshore Lifeboat Centre ever year, by the team of 70 highly skilled people who work to refit and build the charity’s fleet of inshore lifeboats. A lifeboat is completed at the facility every 59 hours: either built from new, or refitted to ensure it has the latest technology onboard and is up to the high specifications required by the lifesaving charity for its volunteer crews.

Glyn Ellis MBE, ILC Operations Manager for the RNLI said, ‘We’re very proud of what we do here at the RNLI, and what we achieve here at the Inshore Lifeboat Centre. Our inshore lifeboats are the workhorses of the RNLI, and were involved in approximately 60% of the RNLI’s lifeboat launches last year.

‘The new RNLI Visitor and Heritage Centre at the Inshore Lifeboat Centre in East Cowes has something for all ages, allowing people to see what goes into making the inshore lifeboats – such as those that have appeared on Saving Lives at Sea. Families will particularly enjoy the D class in the Visitor Centre, as well as the interactive elements to engage children on the importance of sea safety.’

To find out more about the RNLI’s new Visitor and Heritage Centre at the ILC, and to book a free tour, please visit: https://rnli.org/what-we-do/lifeboats-and-stations/building-our-lifeboats/inshore-lifeboat-centre

Notes to editors

• Images available in high resolution
• The Visitor and Heritage Centre at the ILC was opened by HRH Princess Anne on 6 August 2018. You can find out more about the Visitor and Heritage Centre here: https://rnli.org/what-we-do/lifeboats-and-stations/building-our-lifeboats/inshore-lifeboat-centre

RNLI media contacts

For more information please telephone Jennifer Clough, RNLI Press Officer on 01202 336789, or email [email protected] or contact the RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789.

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity 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 146,000 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

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.