Pett Level Independent Rescue Boat (PLIRB) is an independent lifeboat based in Pett Level.
Our mission as a lifesaving service is the preservation of life and the promotion of safety at sea on the foreshore or in inland waters.
PLIRB formed in 1970 to support the local fishing community and has grown ever since.
We serve the coastline and inland waters between Hastings and Rye, although can be called as far as Bexhill. We operate all year round and are on call 24/7. EVERYONE at PLIRB is a volunteer – from our talented boat and shore crew to our brilliant support team who manage the operations – every volunteer is dedicated to providing the best, professional service.
We are not affiliated with RNLI or HM Coastguard but work in close collaboration with their local units as well as all other emergency services. Like RNLI, we receive our taskings from UK Coastguard and are extremely proud that our average launch time is 15-20 minutes from the time of paging – all thanks to our local volunteer base who are on call day and night.
As one of approximately 75 independent lifeboat stations across the UK, we are entirely self-managed and self-funded. We receive no public or centralised funding – we raise funds through donations, fundraising activities, grant applications and our Sea Shanty group – the Pett Slip Buoys. All operational costs, development projects and boat/vehicle assets we work hard to secure funds for.
All volunteers receive a rigorous training programme and have the opportunity to undertake professional qualifications (radio license, powerboat courses, sea survival, casualty care and first aid). Volunteers can decide how they contribute – boat crew, shore crew, events and fundraising or administrative.
We welcome Duke of Edinburgh scheme volunteers who spend several months training with us to learn vital skills, gain experience and build confidence.
Our taskings are varied and can be complex, multi-agency incidents. Taskings include:
- Attending Mayday calls to vessels in critical danger.
- Assisting casualty vessels in difficulty – anything from pleasure crafts suffering. engine failure, motorboats 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 marooned by the tide under the cliffs.
- Providing medical or casualty care – at sea or on the shore.
What makes PLIRB unique is that we strive to be a valuable community asset by:
- Supporting local events – we attend many community events, whether providing the BBQ, erecting /dismantling safety barriers or marquees for concerts, delivering first aid or demonstrating our boat and encouraging youth involvement.
- Hosting school/youth groups for boathouse and facility tours, beach safety and education sessions. We also give presentations to other local groups.
- Helping keep the local area clean and hazard free – this includes moving hazardous or large objects from the beach; clearing fallen trees or debris after bad weather; placing the safety marker buoys to ensure the safety of swimmers and water users.
- Supporting local organisations with beach cleans – our volunteers collect and arrange disposal of the bags of waste.
- Supporting the release of seals in the area.
- Painting and clearing public conveniences which the council were unable to do.
- Providing ash scattering services at sea and installing commemorative benches.
The Future of PLIRB
PLIRB has an exciting future and an ambitious strategy to achieve the goals to future-proof the service. This strategy includes the development of the boathouse footprint (2025-2026) and the replacement of the rescue boat (2027) – both of which are to respond to the demands on the service.
PLIRB is appealing for donations to help fund either campaign – contact details are below if you can help!
