Chiswick Lifeboat Station

Last updated

Chiswick Lifeboat Station
Chiswick Lifeboat Station.jpg
RNLI lifeboat station by Chiswick Pier
Greater London UK relief location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
Chiswick, London
General information
Type RNLI Lifeboat Station
AddressThe Pier House, Corney Reach, Chiswick, London, W4 2UG
Country United Kingdom
Coordinates 51°28′56″N0°15′05″W / 51.4822°N 0.2515°W / 51.4822; -0.2515
Opened2002
Owner Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Website
Chiswick RNLI
Chiswick lifeboat Chelsea Pensioner performing a rescue RNLI Chelsea Pensioner.jpg
Chiswick lifeboat Chelsea Pensioner performing a rescue

Chiswick Lifeboat Station is a lifeboat station on the north bank of the River Thames at Corney Reach, Chiswick, in west London. It is one of the newest stations operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), and one of the first to cover a river rather than estuarial waters or the sea.

Contents

Establishment

The inquiry set up after the collision in 1989 between the Marchioness and the dredger Bowbelle, that resulted in the loss of 51 lives, recommended a dedicated search and rescue presence on the Thames. As a part of this, the government approached the RNLI, who agreed to provide a rescue service that covered the tidal Thames between Teddington and the sea. Locations were approved for stations at Teddington, Chiswick, Tower and Gravesend. [1] [2] These all became operational at the beginning of 2002. [3]

History

Chiswick Lifeboat Station commenced service on 2 January 2002, and operated with an E-class Tiger Marine fast response boat. In July 2002 the boat was named Chelsea Pensioner at a ceremony held at the Royal Hospital Chelsea. [3]

Demand for the services of the Thames lifeboats proved to be much higher than originally anticipated. In 2002, their first year of operation, London lifeboats were called out over 800 times, accounting for 10% of the total number of call-outs, or "shouts", that the RNLI responded to nationwide. Within two months of opening, Chiswick became, and it has continued to be, the UK's second busiest lifeboat station after Tower in Central London. [4] Between 2002 and mid-2018, Chiswick was called to 3,387 incidents and rescued more than 1,620 people. [5]

In 2012, three new E-class lifeboat Mark II lifeboats, E-07, E-08 and E-09, joined the Thames fleet at Chiswick and Tower, and served at both stations. E-003 Chelsea Pensioner was retired in 2015, followed by E-006 Joan and Kenneth Bellamy in 2018.
With the arrival of a new bigger E-class lifeboat Mark III lifeboat arriving at Tower in 2019, Chiswick became the Principal Station for E-08 Dougie and Donna B, and E-09 Brawn Challenge [6]

Crew

The Chiswick station is staffed continuously to provide an immediate response and is coordinated by the Coastguard. The crew is drawn from both full-time staff and a pool of about 50 volunteers. [5]

Boats

Chiswick Lifeboat Station operates two boats. [6]

Op. No. [lower-alpha 1] NameIn service [6] ClassComments
E-003Chelsea Pensioner2002–2015 E-class (Mk I)
E-006Joan and Kenneth Bellamy2002–2018 E-class (Mk II)
E-005Legacy2018–2021 E-class (Mk II)
E-08Dougie and Donna B [7] 2012– E-class (Mk II)
E-09Brawn Challenge [8] 2012– E-class (Mk II)
  1. ↑ Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal National Lifeboat Institution</span> Rescue charity operating in Britain and Ireland

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is the largest charity that saves lives at sea around the coasts of the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man, as well as on some inland waterways. It is one of several lifeboat services operating in the same area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marine Policing Unit</span>

The Marine Policing Unit (MPU) is the waterborne policing unit of London's Metropolitan Police Service, forming part of the Met Taskforce (MO7) within Met Operations. Its 22 vessels are responsible for waterborne policing of the River Thames in Greater London and supporting the rest of the Metropolitan Police and to the City of London Police when dealing with incidents in or around any waterway in London. A specialist underwater and confined-spaces search team carries out searches throughout the Metropolitan Police District. The unit also has 24 officers who are trained in rope access techniques and trained to carry out searches and counter-demonstrator operations at height.

Mersey-class lifeboat Rescue lifeboat class

Mersey-class lifeboats are all-weather lifeboats operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) from stations around the coasts of Great Britain and Ireland, and 3 former RNLI boats operated by ADES Uruguay. They are capable of operating at up to 17 knots (31 km/h) and can be launched from a carriage or by slipway.

E-class lifeboat

The E-class lifeboat forms part of the RNLI fleet in the United Kingdom, operating exclusively in the tidal reach of the River Thames in London. The class was introduced in 2002 to serve the tidal reach of the River Thames, which had not previously been covered by an RNLI rescue service, as a result of a much delayed enquiry into the Marchioness disaster in 1989, in which 51 people died. The enquiry criticised the lack of a rescue service for the tidal Thames, and the UK government asked the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, the Port of London Authority and the RNLI to work together to set up a dedicated Search and Rescue service for this stretch of the river.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tideway</span> Part of the River Thames subject to tides

The Tideway is a part of the River Thames in England which is subject to tides. This stretch of water is downstream from Teddington Lock. The Tideway comprises the upper Thames Estuary including the Pool of London.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teddington Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station in Teddington, in west London, on the River Thames

Teddington Lifeboat Station is a lifeboat station in Teddington, in west London, on the River Thames. It is one of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)'s newest lifeboat stations and is also one of the first to cover a river rather than estuarial waters or the sea. Teddington Lock is the highest tidal point on the Thames.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tower Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat pier on the River Thames in London

The Tower Lifeboat Station is a lifeboat station on the River Thames in London, UK, operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). It is located at Victoria Embankment on the North Bank of the Thames, next to Waterloo Bridge.

Blyth Lifeboat Station is operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and currently operates a D Class (IB1) D-746 Alan and Amy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Yarmouth and Gorleston Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI Lifeboat Station in UK, England

Great Yarmouth and Gorleston lifeboat station is a RNLI base in Norfolk, England. There were originally two separate stations at Great Yarmouth and Gorleston – two coastal towns either side of the River Yare. These were merged in 1926.

A rescue lifeboat is a boat rescue craft which is used to attend a vessel in distress, or its survivors, to rescue crew and passengers. It can be hand pulled, sail powered or powered by an engine. Lifeboats may be rigid, inflatable or rigid-inflatable combination-hulled vessels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Weston-super-Mare Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI Lifeboat Station in Knightstone Harbour, United Kingdom

Weston-super-Mare Lifeboat Station is a lifeboat station at Weston-super-Mare in Somerset, England. For more than 100 years it was situated on Birnbeck Island but is now in a temporary building at Knightstone Harbour until a new lifeboat station can be built nearby. It is operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). The first lifeboat was stationed in the town in 1882, and since 1969 it has only operated inshore lifeboats (ILBs), currently a B-class and a smaller D-class (IB1).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southend-on-Sea Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station at Southend-on-Sea, Essex, England

The Southend-on-Sea lifeboat station is a lifeboat station at Southend-on-Sea in the English county of Essex, operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Falmouth Lifeboat Station</span> Royal National Lifeboat Institution base in Cornwall, United Kingdom

Falmouth Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations at Falmouth, Cornwall in the United Kingdom. The first lifeboat was stationed in the town in 1867 and the present station was opened in 1993. It operates a Severn Class all-weather Lifeboat (ALB) and an Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat (ILB).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minehead Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI Lifeboat Station in Quay West, United Kingdom

Minehead Lifeboat Station is the base for Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) search and rescue operations at Minehead, Somerset in England. The first lifeboat was stationed in the town in 1901 but since 1976 two inshore lifeboats (ILBs) have been operated, a B Class rigid-hulled boat and an inflatable D Class.

Waveney-class lifeboat

The Waveney-class lifeboat was the first class of lifeboats operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) capable of operating at speeds in excess of 10 knots (12 mph). Based on an American design, 22 saw operational service between 1964 and 1999 at the RNLI's stations around the coast of the United Kingdom and Ireland. After being superseded by faster boats in the 1990s, many were sold for further use with lifeboat services abroad, notably in Australia and New Zealand.

The Thames-class lifeboat was operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) from its stations around the coasts of the United Kingdom between 1974 and 1997. Six were ordered but only two completed; they have both been sold on to other users.

Brede-class lifeboat

The Brede-class lifeboat was operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) from its stations around the coasts of the United Kingdom between 1982 and 2002, at which time it was the fastest all-weather lifeboat in its fleet. Eleven were put into service and when replaced by larger boats, seven were sold for further use as lifeboats, mainly in South Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aldeburgh Lifeboat Station</span> RNLI Lifeboat Station in Suffolk , England

Aldeburgh Lifeboat Station is an RNLI station located in the town of Aldeburgh in the English county of Suffolk. the lifeboat station evolved from the Suffolk Shipwreck Association station in 1851 which was originally in Sizewell and there has been a lifeboat here since that date. The present station has two boats on station. These are the Mersey-class lifeboat RNLB Freddie Cooper (ON 1193) and the D-class (IB1) Inshore lifeboat RNLB Susan Scott (D-808). The station covers the coast between Harwich station to the south, and Southwold station to the North.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Happisburgh Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station on the East coast of England in the UK

Happisburgh Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) Inshore lifeboat station close to the village of Happisburgh in the English county of Norfolk in the United Kingdom. Since 2003 the station boathouse has been re-located from the village to an area south called Cart Gap. This is because the beach below Happisburgh disappeared due to coastal erosion and the stations slipway and access was washed away. The original boathouse in the village is now used for training. There are currently two inshore lifeboats station at Happisburgh, an Atlantic 85-class inshore lifeboat called Howard Bell (B-899), and a D-class (IB1) inshore lifeboat called Russell Pickering (D-813)

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gravesend Lifeboat Station</span> Lifeboat station in Kent on the River Thames

Gravesend Lifeboat Station is situated on the Royal Terrace Pier in Gravesend, Kent, on the lower reaches of the River Thames. It is one of the newest lifeboat stations operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), and one of the first to cover a river rather than the sea or estuarial waters.

References

  1. ↑ RNLI. "2002: Lifeboats on the Thames" . Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  2. ↑ Lister, Sam (3 January 2002). "First Thames Lifeboats Launched". The Times. p. 9.
  3. 1 2 RNLI. "Chiswick's station history" . Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  4. ↑ Proto, Laura (27 January 2016). "RNLI crews rescue 245 people from the River Thames in just one year". The Evening Standard. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  5. 1 2 Larter, Grahame; Dobinson, Isabel (13 August 2018). "Meet the Chiswick lifeboat crew who have attended 150 call-outs so far this year". My London. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
  6. 1 2 3 Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2023). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2023. Lifeboats Enthusiasts Society.
  7. ↑ "Chiswick Lifeboat Named by Olympic Rowing Champion". WimbledonSW19.com. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
  8. ↑ "Ross Brawn names RNLI lifeboat". Motorboat & Yachting. Retrieved 28 September 2012.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.