Barrow Lifeboat

11/06/2026

Wednesday night is training night!

The ALB crew practiced casualty evacuation, stabilising a casualty ashore then transferring them to the all weather lifeboat using the Y-Boat that is carried onboard our Tamar class lifeboat.

Interested in being part of our team?

Find out what being part of a lifeboat crew involves here:
https://rnli.org/support-us/volunteer/how-you-can-volunteer/be-a-lifeboat-station-https://volunteering.rnli

And apply here:

🛟 Shore Crew
https://volunteering.rnli.org/vacancy/shore-crew-barrow-612520.html

🛟 Inshore Lifeboat Crew
https://volunteering.rnli.org/vacancy/ilb-crew-barrow-612517.html

🛟 All-Weather Lifeboat Crew
https://volunteering.rnli.org/vacancy/alb-crew-barrow-612516.html



https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeboat-stations/barrow-lifeboat-station

31/05/2026

‼️We are recruiting!‼️

The RNLI’s Lifeboat Station in Barrow is looking for volunteers to join the existing team in a variety of roles, both sea going and ashore. The roles available include All-Weather Lifeboat Crew, Inshore Lifeboat Crew and Shore Crew.

If you would like to be part of an amazing team and help to save lives at sea, please visit the RNLI Website for further information and details of how to apply:

🛟 Shore Crew
https://volunteering.rnli.org/vacancy/shore-crew-barrow-612520.html

🛟 Inshore Lifeboat Crew
https://volunteering.rnli.org/vacancy/ilb-crew-barrow-612517.html

🛟 All-Weather Lifeboat Crew
https://volunteering.rnli.org/vacancy/alb-crew-barrow-612516.html

There has been an RNLI presence in Barrow since 1864. The current station opened in 2001 and houses a Tamar class all weather lifeboat and a D class Inshore lifeboat. The Lifeboat Crew are all volunteers, headed up by the Lifeboat Operations Manager and Launch Authorities and supported by a Shore Crew team.
All boat and shore crew follow the RNLI’s national Operational Competency Framework and respond to pagers when there is a request to launch the lifeboats.
The wider team includes volunteer fundraisers, visits and education volunteers, and water safety volunteers.

The RNLI’s Lifeboat Station in Barrow is looking for volunteers to join the existing team in the role of All Weather Lifeboat Crew.

19/05/2026

The RNLI has revealed today that 40% of people in North West would not know how to float.
The shocking statistic comes as the RNLI charity launches its Float to Live campaign.
With the weather due to warm up ahead of the bank holiday weekend, the RNLI has revealed results from a survey that showed 22% of people in the North West said following safety rules would spoil their enjoyment of open water.
Today’s Float to Live campaign launch ahead of a spell of warm weather predicted over the weekend, with families likely to flock to the coast. The RNLI is reminding people to practice this lifesaving technique and know what to do in an emergency.
Earlier this year, rescuers in the North West searched for around two hours for a casualty who was found floating and swimming by the New Brighton RNLI lifeboat. Thanks to her calling 999, HM Coastguard was made aware and with help on the way, she was given the float to live advice. Thanks to the combined efforts of the call handler at Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service offering advice to the casualty and HM Coastguard during the incident in March, she was able to stay afloat until help arrived.
New Brighton RNLI lifeboat crew, search and rescue assets from Southport Offshore Rescue Trust, HM Coastguard helicopter Rescue 336, as well as shoreside Coastguard Rescue Teams, all took part in a co-ordinated search effort to locate the casualty. After almost an hour of searching, she was located approximately half a mile offshore.
It is estimated that 48.97M people will be heading to the coast or open water at least once over the summer. In the North West, 84% of people surveyed said they would visit the coast at least once between now and September, with 37% saying they would visit three times or more.
Statistics show almost a quarter of people in the North West (21%) said they would stand close to the edge of open water if it was worth it for a good photo. Although people from the North West said they might take risks at the coast, 40% of people wouldn’t know to float if they got into trouble in the water.
Chris Cousens, RNLI Water Safety Lead for the RNLI says:
‘These figures clearly tell us that whilst people in the North West are open to taking risks at the coast, they wouldn’t know what to do if they get into trouble in the water. This casualty did exactly the right thing by calling 999 and was given float to live advice to keep herself afloat until help arrived. We are immensely relieved that this was a favourable outcome.
‘The weather is heating up from this weekend and we know that there will be a huge amount of people visiting the coast over the coming months. We want everyone to remember our Float to Live advice. Instinctively, most people who find themselves struggling in the water will begin to panic, swim, or thrash about.
‘We’re urging people to ignore this instinct and remember to float: Tilt your head back, with your ears submerged. Relax and try to breathe normally. Move your hands and legs to help you stay afloat if you need to. It’s fine if your legs sink – we all float differently. By doing this, you give yourself the chance to rest and recover your breathing. Once you’ve regained control of your breathing, you can call for help or swim to safety.’

18/05/2026

The volunteer crew from Barrow RNLI launched their inshore lifeboat yesterday afternoon (Sunday 17 May 2026) to go to the aid of two people who were cut off by the incoming tide at Foulney Island.

The tasking request for assistance was received from HM Coastguard in Holyhead at 12-02pm. The information given was that two people were stranded on Foulney Island having been cut off by the incoming spring tide and were unable to make their way back to the mainland.

The crew was paged and the inshore lifeboat, Raymond and Dorothy Billingham, was launched at 12-22pm with Jonny Long at the helm along with crew, Nic Johnson and Luke Wilkinson.

The lifeboat made the short passage across to Foulney Island and was at the scene in just a few minutes. The two casualties, who were wet and cold having attempted to wade back ashore, were taken aboard the lifeboat and transferred to the car park area of the Foulney Island causeway where they were handed over into the care of the Furness Coastguard team.

With the casualties safe, the lifeboat returned to the Boathouse at 12-39pm where it was re-housed by the waiting shore crew and made ready for the next launch.

Barrow Lifeboat Press Officer, Chris Clouter, commented ‘Whilst the casualties, who were not local to the area, could have waited on Foulney for several hours for the tide to recede making the causeway accessible again, calling for the lifeboat’s assistance was the right course of action, particularly in the chilly conditions they experienced’.

The weather at the time of the incident was good and the wind was south-westerly, Force 5. The high tide occurred at 12-27pm with a predicted height of 9.6m.

05/05/2026

Our station flag remains at half mast following the tragic loss of two fellow lifesavers and the casualty they were going to aid at Ballina, New South Wales Australia.

Last night was the darkest night ever experienced by Marine Rescue NSW.

Marine Rescue NSW volunteers answer the call for help 24/7 and last night six members from Marine Rescue Ballina did just that. They launched with a single mission, to save lives on the water and assist a yacht, reported to be in difficulty off the South Ballina break wall.

Tragically, two of our volunteers lost their lives during the response.

Marine Rescue NSW Commissioner Todd Andrews said the devastating loss is a solemn reminder of the risks faced by volunteers who serve their communities.

“These two men were serving their local community and have made the ultimate sacrifice to help others.

“Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the families and loved ones of the deceased, their fellow crew members, the brave radio operators who handled the difficult communications during the incident, the entire Marine Rescue NSW family and the wider Ballina community during this incredibly difficult time.

“We are supporting our volunteers and their families through professional counselling and chaplaincy support.

“We ask that the privacy of those involved and their families be respected during this difficult time,” Commissioner Andrews said.

03/05/2026

If you enjoyed our station open day, our flank station RNLI Fleetwood is open again today for their open weekend.

02/05/2026

We’re into our last hour of opening, come and experience a tour of our station and boats, we are closing at 4pm

(Especially as it’s that one rare day that it’s not wet and windy at Roa Island!)

02/05/2026

That’s us all open for visitors!

Come and visit our station Open Day today Saturday 2nd May 11am - 4pm.
Get onboard our lifeboats try on our kit and see what we do.

https://facebook.com/events/s/open-day/1326997699286836/

29/04/2026