Royal National Lifeboat Institution
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is the largest of the lifeboat services operating around the coasts of the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man, as well as on some inland waterways.
"RNLI" redirects here. For the Indian insurance company, see Reliance Nippon Life Insurance.Abbreviation
RNLI
4 March 1824
Life savers
Registered charity
To save lives at sea.
Mark Dowie
The Lifeboat
£221.6 million
1,972
More than 9,700
Founded in 1824 as the National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck, it soon afterwards became the Royal National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck because of the patronage of King George IV. Royal patronage has continued up to the present day with King Charles III. The organisation changed to its name to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution on 5 October 1854 and was granted a royal charter in 1860.
The RNLI is a charity based in Poole, Dorset. It is principally funded by legacies (65%) and donations (30%). Most of its lifeboat crews are unpaid volunteers. They operate more than 400 lifeboats from 238 stations. Paid lifeguards provide services at nearly 250 beaches. The RNLI also provides free safety advice to many different groups of people, and has been involved in international cooperation since 1924.
The RNLI Heritage Collection Trust 2012 is responsible for the organisation's historic objects and archives. It runs a number of museums:[97]
Other independent lifeboat museums can be found, many of which will have RNLI memorabilia:
The RNLI 200th anniversary and Isle of Man’s maritime heritage exhibition 'All at Sea' is at House of Manannan, Peel, Isle of Man, from 17 February 2024 to 26 January 2025. It is supported by the RNLI Heritage Collection Trust 2012.[105]
The 'Women of the RNLI' exhibition to celebrate the RNLI 200th anniversary is at The National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, from 2 March 2024 to 1 December 2024. It features the work of photographer Jack Lowe, who uses the Victorian Collodion wet plate process to create the images.[106]
Many old lifeboats have been preserved by enthusiasts. They often appear at events including historic lifeboat gatherings at Fowey which have been held most years since 2002.[107] The Lifeboat Enthusiast's Society was established in 1964 and supports the work of the RNLI Heritage Collection Trust and all aspects of lifeboat study including collecting ephemera and modelling.[108]
