Harwich Lifeboat station is one of the busiest in Britain and is just one of the 230 RNLI stations based about Britain 's coast. The RNLI is a charity that provides a 24-hour lifesaving service around the UK and Republic of Ireland . The RNLI operates solely from public donations and the crews & supporters are all volunteers.
The Harwich lifeboat station is located on the busy and historic England 's east coast, situated at the mouth of the River Stour & Orwell and opposite is Felixstowe the largest commercial port in the UK . The Harbour and surrounding area is very popular with the increasing leisure industry, from yachting, power-boating, jet skiers and popular tourist's beaches. Harwich has a lifeboat history dating from 1876 and has been home to the first steam lifeboat "Duke of Northumberland” in 1890 and in 1996 the first Severn class lifeboat to be stationed in England was at Harwich.
Today there are two lifeboats stationed at Harwich the off-shore Severn class lifeboat “Albert Brown” and the inshore Atlantic 75 lifeboat “Sure and Steadfast”. In 2002 saw the completion of a new boathouse that provides crew training facilities, houses the in-shore lifeboat, public viewing area and souvenir shop. The two lifeboats cover area from Walton-on-the-Naze to Aldeburgh and 50 miles off-shore, this includes the various different rivers such as the Deben, Ore and Walton-back-waters. This all leads to a very busy lifeboat station with an average of 100 services every year, this keeps the crews and lifeboats very busy.
This web site will provide you a better understanding of the latest services, history, activities and information about the work accomplished at the Harwich Lifeboat Station .
Station News
09/05/2012 - Harwich RNLI Volunteer George Wyatt to be added to RNLI Memorial
George Wyatt, a Harwich RNLI Volunteer was awarded a silver medal in 1862. He was the master of the fishing smack "Alfred" and died whilst attempting to save the crew of the schooner "Alvida" which was wrecked on the 13th of February. The RNLI voted to give £20 for the fund for his widow.
At the RNLI Headquarters in Poole, Dorset, a memorial stands for the full time and volunteer Lifeboat crew members who have lost their lives during services to help others in distress at sea.
George Wyatt's name is to be added to the memorial where another Harwich crew member, William Wink is already listed. In 1881, crew member William Wink tragically drowned when the Lifeboat capsized during a service.
We would be very interested to contact any relatives of George who are still in the town or surrounding areas.
Please call 01255 502258 or E-mail us at Harwich@rnli.org.uk or check our website at www.harwich.org.uk
Latest Service
ILB/ALB - 10/05/2012 0800-1125
Following the disappearance of a person in the Ipswich area during the night, the Inshore Lifeboat was requested to launch at 8.00am to carry out a search at low water.
After further consideration of the tidal conditions during the night, the All Weather Lifeboat was requested to join the search at 8.30am to assist in covering the search area. The Lifeboats carried out a thorough search of a large stretch of the river Orwell, up to and beyond the Orwell Bridge and also in the Ipswich Dock area.
At approximately 11.00am, both Lifeboats were stood down and released to return to station. The missing person was located ashore.
Both Lifeboats were refuelled and ready for service by 11.25am.
Station History
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