Tower Lifeboat Station
Encyclopedia
The Tower Lifeboat Station is a lifeboat station on the River Thames
in London
, UK
, operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution
. It is located at Victoria Embankment
on the North Bank of the Thames, next to Waterloo Bridge
.
The pier takes its name from the original RNLI lifeboat station which opened in 2002 further downstream at Tower Pier
, next to the Tower of London
. In 2006 the lifeboat station moved to its present location, Waterloo Pier the former Waterloo Police Pier.
The RNLI provides a lifeboat service to boats on the River Thames, including the regular commuter and leisure services managed by London River Services
, part of Transport for London
. The RNLI rescue service is independent of TfL. Scheduled river bus services do not stop at the lifeboat pier, and it is not open to public.
A new search and rescue service for the River Thames was announced on 22 January 2001. The RNLI was asked by the Government to provide lifeboat cover, the first time specifically covering a river rather than estuarial waters. This came as a result of the findings of the Thames Safety Inquiries into the collision between the pleasure cruiser The Marchioness
and the dredger Bowbelle, which resulted in the loss of 51 lives in 1989.
In 2002 a lifeboat station was established at Tower Pier. A 40-knot E class lifeboat
was placed on service at 12:00 on 2 January when the new search and rescue arrangements for the tidal reaches of the River Thames came into operation.
The station is manned continuously to provide an immediate response and is coordinated by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency
from a Port of London Authority
operations room at the Thames Barrier
. Two of the three-person crew at each station are full time and the third crew member is a volunteer. This enables the boats to arrive at any incident within 15 minutes.
A special framed certificate, signed by Surgeon Rear Admiral F Golden and the Chief Executive, was presented to Helmsman Mike Sinacola, Mechanic Michael Neild and Crew Member Will Lawrie for the first aid carried out on a seriously injured woman in front of a shocked crowd of onlookers during a service on 2 May 2004.
New facilities on the Thames at Waterloo Pier were completed in 2006.
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Royal National Lifeboat Institution
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is a charity that saves lives at sea around the coasts of Great Britain, Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, as well as on selected inland waterways....
. It is located at Victoria Embankment
Victoria Embankment
The Victoria Embankment is part of the Thames Embankment, a road and river walk along the north bank of the River Thames in London. Victoria Embankment extends from the City of Westminster into the City of London.-Construction:...
on the North Bank of the Thames, next to Waterloo Bridge
Waterloo Bridge
Waterloo Bridge is a road and foot traffic bridge crossing the River Thames in London, England between Blackfriars Bridge and Hungerford Bridge. The name of the bridge is in memory of the British victory at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815...
.
The pier takes its name from the original RNLI lifeboat station which opened in 2002 further downstream at Tower Pier
Tower Millennium Pier
Tower Millennium Pier is a pier on the River Thames, in London, UK. It is operated by London River Services and served by various river transport and cruise operators...
, next to the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
. In 2006 the lifeboat station moved to its present location, Waterloo Pier the former Waterloo Police Pier.
The RNLI provides a lifeboat service to boats on the River Thames, including the regular commuter and leisure services managed by London River Services
London River Services
London River Services is a division of Transport for London , which manages passenger transport on the River Thames in London, UK. They do not own or operate any boats but license the services of other operators...
, part of Transport for London
Transport for London
Transport for London is the local government body responsible for most aspects of the transport system in Greater London in England. Its role is to implement the transport strategy and to manage transport services across London...
. The RNLI rescue service is independent of TfL. Scheduled river bus services do not stop at the lifeboat pier, and it is not open to public.
A new search and rescue service for the River Thames was announced on 22 January 2001. The RNLI was asked by the Government to provide lifeboat cover, the first time specifically covering a river rather than estuarial waters. This came as a result of the findings of the Thames Safety Inquiries into the collision between the pleasure cruiser The Marchioness
Marchioness disaster
The Marchioness disaster occurred on the River Thames in London in the early hours of 20 August 1989. The pleasure boat Marchioness sank after being run down by the dredger Bowbelle, near Cannon Street Railway Bridge. There were 131 people on the Marchioness. Some were members of the crew, some...
and the dredger Bowbelle, which resulted in the loss of 51 lives in 1989.
In 2002 a lifeboat station was established at Tower Pier. A 40-knot E class lifeboat
E class lifeboat
The E class lifeboat is operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution of the United Kingdom and Ireland. It operates exclusively in the tidal reach of the River Thames in London, and has a top speed of 40 knots....
was placed on service at 12:00 on 2 January when the new search and rescue arrangements for the tidal reaches of the River Thames came into operation.
The station is manned continuously to provide an immediate response and is coordinated by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency is a UK executive agency working to prevent the loss of lives at sea and is responsible for implementing British and International maritime law and safety policy.This involves coordinating search and rescue at sea through Her Majesty's Coastguard , ensuring that...
from a Port of London Authority
Port of London Authority
The Port of London Authority is a self-funding public trust established in 1908 by the Port of London Act to govern the Port of London. Its responsibility extends over the Tideway of the River Thames and the authority is responsible for the public right of navigation and for conservancy of the...
operations room at the Thames Barrier
Thames Barrier
The Thames Barrier is the world's second-largest movable flood barrier and is located downstream of central London. Its purpose is to prevent London from being flooded by exceptionally high tides and storm surges moving up from the sea...
. Two of the three-person crew at each station are full time and the third crew member is a volunteer. This enables the boats to arrive at any incident within 15 minutes.
A special framed certificate, signed by Surgeon Rear Admiral F Golden and the Chief Executive, was presented to Helmsman Mike Sinacola, Mechanic Michael Neild and Crew Member Will Lawrie for the first aid carried out on a seriously injured woman in front of a shocked crowd of onlookers during a service on 2 May 2004.
New facilities on the Thames at Waterloo Pier were completed in 2006.