“Saving Lives at Sea” at Hastings Lifeboat Station Draws 21,738 Visitors in 2025

In 2025, Hastings RNLI lifeboat station volunteers welcomed a remarkable 21,738 visitors, offering members of the public a closer look at the lifesaving work carried out by the station’s volunteer crew and raising awareness of the RNLI’s mission to save lives at sea.

Visitors included 51 pre-booked groups as well as 19,325 walk-in guests, many of whom were discovering for the first time that they could view the station’s lifeboats and speak directly with volunteer crew and guides.

Station Highlights and What Visitors Saw

Following the record-breaking bicentenary year in 2024, interest in the Hastings lifeboat station continues strong, with 13 group visits already booked for 2026. Pre-arranged visits typically involve schools, Scout and youth groups, Marine Cadets and even international student groups.

Guides use these organised visits to showcase the station’s two operational lifeboats — the Shannon class all-weather lifeboat and the D-class inshore lifeboat — and share information about lifesaving, water safety, and the wider work of the RNLI.

Walk-in visitors can explore the Shannon lifeboat from the station’s bespoke viewing gantry, which features interactive screens and children’s activities that help bring the RNLI’s lifesaving work to life. Popular questions centre on how the lifeboat launches from its low boathouse, when it last launched on a call, and how the charity is funded.

Volunteers Extending the Lifesaving Message

Beyond hosting visitors at the station, the Hastings team also takes their lifesaving message into the community. Volunteers regularly visit local care homes, community groups and charitable organisations within a 10-mile radius, inspiring greater understanding of the RNLI’s work and encouraging engagement with sea safety.

Those interested in arranging a station visit can drop into Hastings lifeboat station or contact the Lifeboat Station Visits Officers — Judith Collins and Annette Veness — for more details.

About the RNLI

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteer crews provide a 24/7 search and rescue service around the coasts of the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, funded entirely by public donations.

Operating from 238 lifeboat stations and supporting more than 240 lifeguard units, the RNLI has helped save tens of thousands of lives since its founding in 1824.