Pett Level Independent
Rescue Boat

Registered Charity Number: 286891

Proud member of NILA

About Us

We are an independent lifeboat based in Pett Level, East Sussex.
We serve the coastline and inland waters between Camber and Hastings.

Our Journey

The service was was founded in 1970 to support the local fishing community and became the Pett Level Rescue Boat Association (subsequently the Pett Level Independent Rescue Boat Association) – receiving charity status in the 1980’s. In our 50-year history PLIRB has become a valued and respected community asset and service.

PLIRB has grown and strengthened and is committed to training to be the best professional lifesaving service we can be.

Over the years we have developed our boathouse footprint from one building to a custom-built crew room, boathouse and additional garage.

Our Future

PLIRB continues to grow and develop and is embarking on an ambitious programme of both administrative and fundraising initiatives.

Declared Facility status
All independent lifeboats will be required to be a Declared Facility station to continue receiving official taskings from UK Coastguard, essentially adopting and conforming to the Rescue Boat Code. This is a huge exercise for which we are overhauling our training, maintenance and reporting systems. In addition, all crew and helm must undertake formalised training qualifications.

Improved boathouse facilitiesĀ 
Our facilities were last upgraded almost 15 years ago and we are fastĀ  outgrowing our current home! We have secured planning permission to extend the boathouse to provide more flexible storage options for the boat and other equipment. This will free up space in the crew room to improve the changing facilities.

Our taskings

We launch on service by being tasked by UK Coastguard, being called upon by the public or self-launch to an incident we become aware of.

As an inshore rescue boat service, our taskings are varied and include:

  • Attending Mayday calls to vessels in critical danger
  • Assisting casualty vessels in difficulty – anything from pleasure crafts suffering engine failure, motor boats running low on fuel or lost in poor visibility or yachts taking on water.
  • Assisting swimmers, paddle-boarders or kayakers in difficulty.
  • Searching for missing (often vulnerable) persons.
  • Searching for missing children.
  • Locating and retrieving hazardous debris.
  • Assisting walkers in difficulty in soft mud at low tide.
  • Providing assistance to walkers cut off by the tide under the cliffs.
  • Providing medical or casualty care – at sea or on the shore.

Our Volunteers

Everyone at PLIRB is a volunteer. Collectively we give over 12,000 hours each year to training, taskings, fundraising, maintenance and administration.

Our volunteers range from 18-70+ years – there is a role for everyone. We welcome Duke of Edinburgh Scheme students who volunteer with us.

Roles at PLIRB include:

  • Boat crew
  • Beach and base crew
  • Launch and recovery vehicle driver
  • Fundraising, events and social media
  • Committee
  • Maintenance

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