Portsmouth Lifeboat Station

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Portsmouth Lifeboat Station

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For over 50 years an inshore lifeboat at Portsmouth has provided search and rescue cover for the Eastern Solent

04/09/2026

🚨AUGUST ROUND-UP🚨
19 shouts. 70 shouts this year. And plenty happening behind the scenes🌊🚤

August was our busiest month of the year so far, with the crew responding to 19 shouts, taking our 2026 total to 70.
But it wasn’t all about callouts…

🤝Training together
We joined forces with the RNLI lifeguards for a joint exercise, putting our teamwork and skills to the test.

🚤New boat crew in the making
A huge well done to three shore crew members who have now signed off and are ready to begin their boat training. An exciting next step in their RNLI journey!

🏅Celebrating dedication
We were also proud to recognise a number of our crew receiving their long service awards. What an incredible commitment to the RNLI and to saving lives at sea💙

Thank you to everyone who supports Portsmouth RNLI. We couldn’t do it without you🙌

23/08/2026

A huge well done to Nick, who passed his Shore Crew assessment this week!🎉

Nick joined Portsmouth RNLI back in January and has worked incredibly hard over the past few months to reach this milestone.
He’s now ready to take the next step in his training and progress towards becoming Boat Crew🚤💪

Congratulations, Nick - fantastic work, and we’re looking forward to seeing what comes next! 👏

21/08/2026

Everyone at Portsmouth RNLI is deeply saddened by the tragic events in Shoreham this week.

Our heartfelt thoughts are with the families and friends of those who have lost their lives. We also stand alongside our colleagues along the coast at Shoreham RNLI Lifeboat Station, sending our deepest sympathy, strength and support at this incredibly difficult time💙

18/08/2026

📟Shout 58 of 2026📟

At 08:38 yesterday morning, our Atlantic 85 Norma T was tasked to a vessel taking on water near the submarine barrier off Southsea seafront, with two people on board.

On arrival, the lifeboat crew quickly set to work using the salvage pump to remove the water from the vessel.

Once the situation was under control, the vessel was taken in tow by Sea Start towards Southsea Marina, with Norma T escorting throughout the passage to ensure the safety of those on board.

The lifeboat and crew returned safely to Portsmouth RNLI station at around 11:00.
A great team effort by all involved, helping to keep those on the water safe🌊🚤

📸Watch and Shoot Lifeboats

13/08/2026

It's the moment you've been waiting for... Saving Lives at Sea is BACK!

We've had a decade of watching nail-biting rescues, incredible courage, and unwavering dedication from our volunteers around the UK and Ireland - so, get ready for brand new stories from the frontline as Saving Lives at Sea returns at 8pm on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer on Tuesday 18 August (next week!).

You won't want to miss it.

🗓️ Tuesday 18th August
⏰ 8pm
📍 BBC Two & BBC iPlayer

Get involved, spread the word and join us for another series celebrating the incredible people who Save Lives at Sea 🌊🚤 📟

23/07/2026

Falling unexpectedly into cold water can happen to anyone. Your instinct may be to swim hard or thrash about, but the RNLI advice is simple: Float to Live🌊

✅Tilt your head back with your ears submerged.
✅Relax and try to control your breathing.
✅Move your hands and feet to help you stay afloat.
✅It’s fine if your legs sink, we all float differently.
✅Practice floating in a local pool

A huge thank you to our crew member Alice, who expertly demonstrated this vital lifesaving technique during our open day.

Cold water shock can happen to anyone, but knowing how to Float to Live could make all the difference.

Please take a moment to watch, share, and help spread this potentially lifesaving message💙

22/07/2026

📟 Shouts 46, 47 & 48 of 2026📟

The crew have had a busy 24 hours, launching on service three times!

Our first shout came at 4:57pm yesterday, when we were tasked to assist a broken-down boat at the top of Langstone Harbour. The vessel had managed to drift onto one of the islands, but with the tide coming in, the situation had the potential to deteriorate. The casualties did exactly the right thing by staying where they were and calling for help. Our crew arrived on scene to find the casualties in good spirits and assisted them safely back to Portsmouth Lifeboat Station.

Our second and third shouts followed at 5:03am this morning, with both lifeboats launched following reports of a missing person. As our crews arrived on scene, we received the good news that the individual had been located safely ashore. Both lifeboats were stood down and returned to station.

A huge thank you to all of our volunteer crew who responded at a moment's notice, day and night, to help keep people safe. Not every early start has its rewards, but this one certainly did as our crews were treated to a stunning sunrise upon returning to station this morning.

A reminder that if you find yourself in difficulty on the water, stay calm, stay with your vessel if it is safe to do so, and call for help. In a coastal emergency, dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

14/07/2026

What an incredible day! 🌊💙
A huge thank you to everyone who came along to Portsmouth RNLI's Open Day on Sunday and helped make it such a fantastic success. Thanks to your amazing support, we raised more than £2,500 to help fund our lifesaving work!

There was something for everyone to enjoy, from exciting on-the-water lifeboat demonstrations and our Float to Live water safety demonstration, to meeting our volunteer crew and learning more about the RNLI.

Our vintage buses ran by CPPTD -City of Portsmouth Preserved Transport Depot were a huge hit, providing a free shuttle service and scenic rides along the seafront. Stormy Stan even climbed aboard for a tour of Portsmouth, waving to everyone along the way! 🎉 The Catch Of The Day Sea Shanty Ladies kept the crowds entertained with fantastic live music, and our duck race proved as popular as ever.

A massive thank you to RNLI Hayling Island Lifeboat Station, Portsmouth Coastguard Rescue Team and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service for helping make the day so memorable.

We're also incredibly grateful to the many local businesses who generously donated raffle prizes, and to all our volunteers, exhibitors and supporters whose hard work made the event possible.

Most of all, thank you to everyone who came along. Your support helps keep our volunteer crews ready to answer the call and save lives at sea, whenever they're needed.

We can't wait to do it all again next year! 💙🚤

12/07/2026

🌊 Portsmouth RNLI Open Day is happening today! 🚤💙

The wait is over! We can't wait to welcome you for an action-packed day at the lifeboat station!
Come and get up close to the lifeboats, meet our amazing volunteer crew, enjoy exciting displays, family-friendly activities, and discover what it takes to save lives at sea. There's something for everyone!

The weather is looking hot, even with a steady breeze, so please remember:
☀️ Sun cream
💧 A refillable water bottle - free water refill stations will be available throughout the day.

Come along, have a fantastic day, and help support the lifesaving work of the RNLI. See you soon! 🌊⚓💙

10/07/2026

Good luck to everyone taking part in this weekend's Round the Island Race! With around 800 yachts taking to the water to tackle the iconic 50-nautical-mile course around the Isle of Wight, it's set to be another fantastic day of sailing.

A special good luck goes to our own crew member, Abi, and her team – we'll be cheering you on all the way! 💙

While many enjoy the excitement of the race, our volunteer lifeboat crew will be remaining on duty throughout the event, ready to respond should anyone need our help. We hope for fair winds, safe sailing, and an enjoyable race for all.
Stay safe, look out for one another, and have a brilliant weekend on the water.

Address

Ferry Road
Portsmouth
PO49LY

Telephone

+442392814811

Website

http://www.portsmouthlifeboat.co.uk/, http://www.rnli.org.uk/rnli_near_you/east/stations/PortsmouthHants

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