

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
Penlee Lifeboat Station launched 1 hour ago

Launch time
4.45pm 20 May 2025
Lifeboat class
B-Class
Lifeboat number
B-893
Carrybridge Lifeboat Station

Launch time
4.07pm 20 May 2025
Lifeboat class
B-Class
Lifeboat number
B-904
Troon Lifeboat Station

Launch time
3.48pm 20 May 2025
Lifeboat class
Trent
Lifeboat number
14-38
Kinghorn Lifeboat Station

Launch time
3.39pm 20 May 2025
Lifeboat class
B-Class
Lifeboat number
B-836
Eyemouth Lifeboat Station

Launch time
3.32pm 20 May 2025
Lifeboat class
Shannon
Lifeboat number
13-29
Newhaven Lifeboat Station

Launch time
3.28pm 20 May 2025
Lifeboat class
D-Class
Lifeboat number
D-774
Blackpool Lifeboat Station

Launch time
2.41pm 20 May 2025
Lifeboat class
D-Class
Lifeboat number
D-864
Portsmouth Lifeboat Station

Launch time
2.23pm 20 May 2025
Lifeboat class
D-Class
Lifeboat number
D-850
Eastbourne Lifeboat Station

Launch time
2.14pm 20 May 2025
Lifeboat class
D-Class
Lifeboat number
D-876
Eastbourne Lifeboat Station

Launch time
1.59pm 20 May 2025
Lifeboat class
Trent
Lifeboat number
14-15