What it takes to launch a lifeboat
Right now, RNLI lifesavers are ready to race to the rescue.
They don’t know who they will be helping. Nor what to expect at the end of the shout. All they know is that someone is in need of their help.
But before they can even launch, a lot has to happen. This is what it takes to launch a lifeboat.
The call to rescue comes in
Someone is in desperate need of rescue. Their life is in danger. An emergency call is made to 999 and the coastguard are alerted. A decision is then made: an RNLI lifeboat needs to be launched as soon as possible. The call to rescue goes out. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, RNLI volunteers across the UK and Ireland are ready to answer that call.
The crew are paged
The coastguard contact the lifeboat station’s Lifeboat Operations Manager (LOM) or Launch Authority (LA). If a launch is agreed, the coastguard will then page the crew. Volunteers will drop everything – work, family, friends – to run to the rescue.
As the volunteers quickly make their way to the station, so does the LOM or LA, who will begin collecting as much information as possible about the shout. From what they know, they and the helm or coxswain of the lifeboat will assemble their crew.
The lifeboat is prepared
While the lifeboat crew quickly change into their kit, the Shore Crew prepare the lifeboat. It’s their job to ensure the lifeboat is ready to go as soon as the crew are. From opening station doors and clearing the slipway, to starting winches and getting the tractor ready. There are countless tasks that must be done quickly and efficiently. Just like the crew, they have put in countless hours of training to be ready for this moment.
Finally, the Lifeboat Crew are able to launch. All the hours spent training, the time spent practicing boat handling and using the equipment, is all about to be put into use.
It takes a lot of people to be able to launch a lifeboat. But there’s one person missing from this chain of events – You.
Your support is vital to lifesaving
Our volunteer lifesavers wouldn’t be able to launch without your support. Every training session, every piece of kit, every lifeboat, has been funded by donations from people like you. Donations powered this launch. Your kindness could help power the next.
Will you donate today to ensure that our crews can keep saving lives at sea?
Lifeboat crews have just launched
24 hours a day, 7 days a week, RNLI lifeboat crews are ready to launch to the rescue.
Barrow Lifeboat Station launched 1 hour ago
Launch time
6.59pm 12 December 2024
Lifeboat class
Tamar
Lifeboat number
16-08
Fleetwood Lifeboat Station
Launch time
6.55pm 12 December 2024
Lifeboat class
D-Class
Lifeboat number
BB-705
Portsmouth Lifeboat Station
Launch time
6.15pm 12 December 2024
Lifeboat class
D-Class
Lifeboat number
D-850
Portishead Lifeboat Station
Launch time
5.43pm 12 December 2024
Lifeboat class
B-Class
Lifeboat number
B-884
Portishead Lifeboat Station
Launch time
5.29pm 12 December 2024
Lifeboat class
B-Class
Lifeboat number
B-884
Eastbourne Lifeboat Station
Launch time
4.35pm 12 December 2024
Lifeboat class
Trent
Lifeboat number
14-15
Dover Lifeboat Station
Launch time
2.11pm 12 December 2024
Lifeboat class
Severn
Lifeboat number
17-31
Eastbourne Lifeboat Station
Launch time
12.56pm 12 December 2024
Lifeboat class
D-Class
Lifeboat number
D-876
Hayling Island Lifeboat Station
Launch time
12.37pm 12 December 2024
Lifeboat class
D-Class
Lifeboat number
D-779
Hastings Lifeboat Station
Launch time
11.19am 12 December 2024
Lifeboat class
Shannon
Lifeboat number
13-28