Tower RNLI Requested To Launch With First Ever All-Volunteer Duty Crew

Thursday 15 January 2026

Thursday 15 January 2026 became a new milestone for Tower RNLI as for the first time since opening in 2002, its day crew were operated solely by volunteers.

The four volunteers stand in their yellow kit prepared to go afloat — The four volunteers ready to go afloat. (Ashley, Asher, Storm & Jim)

Tower Lifeboat Station, along with Chiswick & Gravesend, operates on the River Thames providing a 24/7 search and rescue service, however unlike most RNLI stations, these stations are fully staffed night and day with up to four crew on site, ready to launch when tasked by HM Coastguard.

Each station is led by a dedicated Station Manager and supported by full-time Commanders, a highly skilled professional team vital for RNLI operations on the River Thames. These roles are fundamental to the success and safety of the service. From ensuring stations are maintained to the highest standards, to delivering world-class training for more than 200 volunteers across the Thames, they set the benchmark for operational excellence.

They carry the ultimate responsibility for crew welfare, operational decision-making, and lifesaving response on the UK’s busiest and most complex waterways.

The four volunteers started their 12-hour shift at 6:30am, carried out morning maintenance on the duty E-Class lifeboat Hearn Medicine Chest before going afloat on exercise, later that day at 3:55pm - requested to launch on tasking by HM Coastguard.

Station Manager Kevin Maynard said, ‘It was a proud moment to witness Storm Smith-Suckoo lead the shift as duty Commander - backed up by Ashley Bard as Navigator, along with crew members Jim Allen & Asher Robinson.’

‘All four are volunteers here at Tower, the first time we have had an all-volunteer crew cover a shift in Central London.’

Notes to Editor

Tower RNLI, based in the heart of London, is our busiest lifeboat station. The crew are on the station 24/7, 365 days a year- ready to respond to any incident immediately.

RNLI media contacts

For more information please contact:

· Ashley Bard, RNLI volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer on [email protected]

· Jess Curtis, Regional Communications Manager [email protected]

· RNLI Press Office on 01202 336789

The four volunteers stand in their yellow kit onboard the lifeboat — The four volunteers ready to go afloat on E-10. (Asher, Ashley, Jim & Storm)

Tower's Lifeboat Hearn Medicine Chest afloat on the Thames operated by four volunteers.

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI is the charity that 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 146,700 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, 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.

We can’t save lives without you

Tower RNLI Requested To Launch With First Ever All-Volunteer Duty Crew

Key facts about the RNLI

Learn more about the RNLI

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

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