Saving lives since 1835

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Our History

Since 1835 there's been a lifeboat stationed in Ferryside.

Read about the history of Ferryside Lifeboat and how the service has evolved from simple  oar-power to a state-of-the-art RIB over 180 years.

About Us

Ferryside Lifeboat is one of around 80 independent lifeboats operating in the UK.

Watching over the Three Rivers estuary, our volunteer crew operate 24/7 with the Coast Guard to save lives at sea.

Fundraising

As an independent lifeboat, we're entirely dependent on donations to stay afloat.

As all of our crew and administrators are volunteers, you can be sure that every penny donated is used to save lives.

Latest Shouts

As a declared facility, Ferryside Lifeboat responds to emergency call-outs  from HM Coastguard 24/7.

Read the details of the latest call-outs Ferryside Lifeboat have been tasked with.

About Ferryside Lifeboat

An Independent Lifeboat covering the Towy Estuary, Wales.

Ferryside Lifeboat is one of more than fifty lifeboats stationed around the British Isles that operate independently of the RNLI.

They provide the same role as the RNLI and are “declared facilities” within HM Coastguard’s search and rescue organisation. As a declared facility Ferryside Lifeboat is launched by HM Coastguard in response to ‘999’ calls and distress calls on VHF CH16.

At Ferryside, like most lifeboats operating in the Bristol Channel, we have to cope with a large tidal range, the second largest tidal rise and fall in the world makes our waters some of the most hostile in the world.

Ferryside lifeboat is available 24 hours a day throughout the year and is staffed entirely by local volunteers. A smaller second lifeboat is also available at any state of the tide for mud and sandbank rescues.

14
Shouts
this year

8
Minutes
Average Time To Launch

23
Thousand
Operating Cost Each Year

The Crew

He's American, so we're blaming him for Trump

Mike
'Iowa'
Hackfort

Senior Coxswain

A man who cares passionately about the boat (and pork scratchings).

Anthony
'Pie'
Rees

Coxswain

One man, and his dog.

Andy 'Morgs' Morgan

Coxswain

We're just jealous of his beard

Dave Atkinson

Coxswain

House proud! Makes sure we keep the boatshed clean and tidy.

Richard 'Jonesy' Jones

Coxswain

Writes nonsense on websites

Simon Lamble

Coxswain

Knot specialist

Pete
Bailey

Coxswain

Good at looking after things. Don't tell him, but we've got our eye on his helicopter

Mark Lucas

Mark
Lucas

Senior Crew

Crew disciplinarian

David
Martin

Secretary

A man of mystery (we don't have a photo)

Ferryside Lifeboat

Mark
Foxton

Crew

Has been know to smile

Ferryside Lifeboat

Tony
Walsh

Shore Crew

Born to do it

Ferryside Lifeboat

Gordon
Meiklejohn

Treasurer

Handy with the paddles

Ferryside Lifeboat

Jack
Foxton

Crew

A man of mystery (we don't have a photo)

Ferryside Lifeboat

Jordan
Daniels

Trainee Crew

You have to try his brisket

Ferryside Lifeboat

Steve
Baynton

Trainee Crew

Probably on holiday!

Ferryside Lifeboat

Grant
Holder

Trainee Crew

Another man of mystery. We'll get a camera soon

Ferryside Lifeboat

Liam
Ross

Trainee Crew

Yet another man of mystery

Ferryside Lifeboat

Ned
Stephens

Trainee Crew

Ferryside Tide Times

Tide Times & Heights for Ferryside on
19th March 2024
01:10 - High Tide ( 4.15m )
08:33 - Low Tide ( 0.91m )
14:10 - High Tide ( 4.01m )
21:23 - Low Tide ( 0.91m )

Ferryside Weather

Ferryside
11°
mist
humidity: 93%
wind: 7m/s SW
H 11 • L 10
10°
Wed
9°
Thu
10°
Fri
Weather from OpenWeatherMap

Latest News

Ferryside Lifeboat Audit Completed - We’re very pleased to say that the review process that the lifeboat crew, St John Cymru, and HMCG have been working through has now been fully completed and all of Ferryside Lifeboat’s assets are available for service 24×7. We want to massively thank our community, volunteers and friends for their patience and support and we’re …
Blue the dog Blue - It is with sadness that we yesterday had to say goodbye to one of our longest serving crew members, Ship’s Dog, Blue. Blue will be very much missed around the lifeboat station, even though we will now be able to eat our bacon sandwiches in safety. Fair winds and blue sky Blue!
31st Charity Garden Crawl – Sunday 30th June 2019 - Ferryside is the coastal village which recently featured on the BBC programme ‘Sam and Shauna’s Big Cookout’, in which Sam and Shauna from Hang Fire restaurant in Barry spent a week discovering the delights of Ferryside. Their visit coincided with last year's Garden Crawl, and after a fantastic day of wandering around the village exploring …
Hovercraft undergoing trials New Rescue Hovercraft Arrives In Ferryside – and Gets First Callout - Ferryside Lifeboat’s new rescue hovercraft was delivered on Saturday following its initial sea trials, and has now been handed over to the crew to start training on the craft before it goes fully operational. The craft was a little busier than expected though when, whilst it was undergoing trials, the lifeboat received a call regarding a …

Get In Touch

If there is an emergency, please dial 999 and ask for the coastguard.

Otherwise, you can get in touch with Ferryside Lifeboat using this form...