The Mumbles Lifeboat Station
The Mumbles Lifeboat Station | |
RNLI Lifeboat station | |
Old Mumbles Lifeboat Station (1922-2014) | |
Country | Wales, UK |
---|---|
State | Swansea |
City | Swansea |
Location | Pier Road, Mumbles, Swansea, UK. SA3 4EN |
- coordinates | 51°34′11″N 3°58′48″W / 51.56972°N 3.98000°WCoordinates: 51°34′11″N 3°58′48″W / 51.56972°N 3.98000°W |
Founded | 1835 (taken over by RNLI - 1863) |
Owner | Royal National Lifeboat Institution |
Visitation | Open All year round |
Swansea, Wales |
The Mumbles Lifeboat Station (based in Mumbles, Swansea, Wales) opened in 1835 with a lifeboat that was funded and managed by Swansea Harbour Trustees and was known as Swansea Lifeboat Station.[1] The station was taken over by the RNLI in 1863 and moved to Mumbles in 1866. The station only officially became The Mumbles Lifeboat Station in 1904.
The station currently operates a Tamar-class lifeboat and a D-class (IB1) lifeboat.
History
When the station first opened, it did not have a boathouse and the lifeboat was stored under the cliffs. In 1866 the first boathouse was built and it was then replaced with a larger boathouse when a replacement lifeboat needed more room.
A slipway was constructed for launching the lifeboat in 1888 and in 1897, Mumbles Railway and Pier Company constructed a new slipway for the RNLI at no cost to the institution.
Another new slipway was built in 1916 and it was extended and had alterations made to it in 1922.
In 1947 the lifeboat Edward, Prince of Wales and her crew of 8 were lost while assisting SS Samtampa which had run aground on Sker Point.[2]
Today
The D-class lifeboat is the main workhorse of the station, being used for more than 60% of the callouts.
Mumbles Lifeboat Station is the third busiest station in Wales.
In 2014 a new Tamer class lifeboat entered service at The Mumbles, temporarily kept afloat at Swansea Marina while a new, larger, boathouse and slipway were constructed on the end of Mumbles pier.
Fleet
All Weather Boats
Dates in service | Class | ON | Op. No. | Name |
---|---|---|---|---|
1863–1866 | 10 oared boat | Martha and Anne | ||
1866–1883 | Wolverhampton | |||
1883–1898 | 34ft Self-Righter | ON 229 | Wolverhampton (replacement) | |
1898–1900 | 34ft Self-Righter | ON 173 | Reserve No.5 | |
1900–1903 | 35ft Self-Righter | ON 436 | James Stevens No. 12 | |
1903–1905 | 37ft Self-Righter | ON 265 | Quiver No.1 | |
1905–1924 | 43ft Watson-class | ON 535 | Charlie Medland | |
1924–1947 | 45ft Watson-class | ON 678 | Edward, Prince of Wales | |
1947–1974 | 46ft 9in Watson-class | ON 849 | William Gammon - Manchester and District XXX | |
1974–1985 | 47ft Watson-class | ON 940 | Pentland (Civil Service No. 31) | |
1985–2006 | Tyne-class | ON 1096 | 47-005 | The Ethel Anne Measures |
2006–2014 | Tyne-class | ON 1127 | 47-019 | Babs & Agnes Robertson |
2014–present | Tamar-class | ON 1307 | 16-27 | Roy Barker IV |
Inshore lifeboats
Dates in service | Class | Op. No. | Name |
---|---|---|---|
1965–1972 | D-class (RFD PB16) | D-44 | Unnamed |
1972–1986 | D-class | D-199 | Unnamed |
1986–1994 | D-class | D-319 | Unnamed |
1994–2004 | D-class (EA16) | D-463 | Nellie Grace Hughes |
2004–present | D-class (IB1) | D-623 | Peterborough Beer Festival II |
Station Honours
Four crewmen of the sand dredger Steepholm were saved by the Atlantic College lifeboat and the Porthcawl lifeboat in partnership with the Mumbles lifeboat in 1968.
References
- ↑ "Mumbles Lifeboat - History". Retrieved 3 May 2014.
- ↑ "BBC News: Wales: Tribute for 1947 Mumbles disaster". Retrieved 3 May 2014.