Dover’s new sustainable lifeboat station showcased in opening ceremony
The RNLI has revealed their brand-new lifeboat station as part of the Western Docks Revival Scheme in Dover.
The newly completed station has a larger shop and visitor area as well as up to date changing facilities for the volunteer crew who operate their all-weather Severn class lifeboat
City of London II from the pontoon alongside.
Construction of the station began in February 2023 and the new building was completed in early 2024.
Saturday 22 June saw the official opening ceremony for the station, and the station was pleased to welcome the RNLI’s outgoing chief executive Mark Dowie as well as The Lord Lieutenant of Kent – The Lady Colgrain.
Although the weather was changeable over the weekend, the sun shone on the ceremony and guests were greeted by local sea scouts who also provided the music for the ceremony with their band.
Dover lifeboat operations manager Robert Bendhiaf said: ‘We are excited to welcome to community into our new station – we have a new visitor area to help spread out vital water safety information and to welcome schools and local groups.
‘Our opening ceremony was a proud day for all of us who have been a part of Dover lifeboat station, we look forward to continuing to save lives at sea for the next generation and beyond.’
Andy Milton, chair of Dover lifeboat management group, said: ‘The opening ceremony has been months of joint working between the harbour as well as the wider RNLI, Dover station and its volunteers.
‘A highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of vellums for exceptional service to a number of the crew there by Mark Dowie in recognition of their outstanding contributions to a difficult rescue.’
The curved building is designed with sustainability at its forefront and will not need any maintenance for the first 30 years, including bee bricks, solar panels, and a ground source heat pump to minimise the carbon footprint and running costs.
It is made largely from Siberian larch which is from FSC sustainable certified sources and is selected as it is a durable material for the exposed marine location of the building due to its slow growth. This timber will silver over time.
Within the RNLI’s 200-year history Dover is one of the earlier lifeboat stations having been established in 1837 by the Dover Humane Society.
The RNLI took over the service in 1855, and the current Severn class lifeboat, ON1220 City of London II was placed on service 15 March 1997.
Dover crews have received 6 Silver Medals and 13 Bronze medals and one MBE.
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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.
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