Dover Lifeboat Station is located at New Marina Curve in Dover, a town and major ferry port, Port of Dover, which sits facing Calais, France, across the Strait of Dover, on the south-east coast of the English county of Kent.OS Explorer Map 138 – Dover, Folkestone & Hythe.Published: Ordnance Survey – Southampton. .
A lifeboat station was first established at Dover in 1837, by the Dover Humane and Shipwreck Institution (DHSI). Management of the station was transferred to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1855.Heroes All! – The story of the RNLI. Author: Beilby, Alec. Publisher: 1992, Patrick Stephens Ltd – Part of the Haynes Publishing Group.Work: Chapter 18 – The Lifeboat Stations – Part 2 The Kent Stations, Dover, Pages 164.
The station currently operates a All-weather lifeboat.
History In a report to the House of Commons, 1,573 vessels were reported stranded or wrecked off Dover between 1833 and 1835, with 1,714 persons drowned.
The 'Dover Humane and Shipwreck Institution' was established, and a self-righting lifeboat was commissioned from local shipbuilder Elvin. A 37-foot (11m) self-righting 'Puling and Sailing' (P&S) lifeboat, one with sails and (12) oars, was placed on service in 1837, kept near North's Battery, and was in operation until 1853.
A replacement lifeboat was commissioned in 1853, built by Mr T. C. Clarkson of London. A smaller boat, 28-feet long, rowing 6 oars, and weighing just 27cwt. Two years later, the RNLI was invited to take over the management of the Dover lifeboat, which was agreed. The Clarkson lifeboat was modified to the standards of the lifeboats.
In 1866, a boathouse was constructed at the western end of the Esplanade, at a cost of £244. A clock tower was built alongside, complete in 1877. However, in 1893, building work for the Dover Harbour of Refuge was started. To make way for the new pier, the clock tower was moved, and the lifeboat house was demolished, and replaced. The former boathouse at the Dover Western Docks has been designated a Grade II listed building, along with the adjacent clock tower.List Entry – Clock Tower and Former Boat House retrieved 17 September 2013
First closure In September 1914, following the outbreak of war, the station was forced to close due to difficulties maintaining a crew for the lifeboat.
The station re-opened in 1919, with a new steam lifeboat called James Stevens No. 3 placed on station. Built in 1898, this single propeller lifeboat was one of only six steam driven lifeboats, designed to be ready to steam immediately, at all times. However, the lifeboat still took at least 20 minutes to get up to steam, and required a large technical crew to keep her boilers fired. It was launched only five times before the station was closed again in 1922.Mayday Mayday – The History of Coastal Rescue in Britain and Ireland. Authors;Farrington, Karen – Constable, Nick.Publisher: Collins 2011. Work: Chapter: 4 – South, page: 99 – Dover Lifeboat Station.
Camber (East Docks) station With increased shipping and the advent of air traffic, the RNLI realised that a lifeboat station in Dover would again be required, and in 1929 a new boathouse was opened in the Eastern Docks at Camber. The re-opened station was supplied with a new faster lifeboat. The Sir William Hillary (ON 725), named after the founder of the RNLI, arrived on station in 1930 and was powered by twin 375 horsepower petrol engines with a top speed of 17.25 Knots. This was almost twice the speed of the rest of the RNLI’s fleet of lifeboats, most of which were capable of 9 Knots. The Dover station operated from this location until the Second World War. At the time of the Dunkirk evacuation the Sir William Hillary was away having a refit and overhaul. The relief lifeboat Agnes Cross (ON 663) remained at Dover until 1941, when the station closed again for the duration of the War.
Post-War re-opening
It would be 1947 before post-war lifeboat operations recommenced at Dover, the station re-locating to the former Motor torpedo boat pens in the East Docks area. The rapid expansion of the Dover ferry terminal in the 1980s saw the lifeboat station move again, to the Tug Haven, situated in the inner harbour across from the Cross Wall Quay.
Cross Wall Quay In the late 1990s, work began on a new station, built on Cross Wall Quay. Construction was completed in 2000, and the station began operating in August 2001. The legacy left to the RNLI helped fund the £513,000 cost of the building. The station was in use for 23 years.
New Marina Curve
As part of the Port of Dover Western Docks redevelopment, it was decided to relocate the lifeboat station from Cross Wall Quay, located in the Inner Harbour, to the New Marina Curve. The lifeboat is now located in the Outer Harbour, providing faster access to open water.
The building was designed by Studio 4 architects to be as environmentally friendly as possible, with a Glulam timber-frame, ground source heating and solar panels. The move was announced in 2022 and construction started in February 2023. It was completed early the following year. The official opening was on 22 June 2024.
Replacement lifeboat On 7 April 2026, the All-weather lifeboat 17-51 "Ettrick Shepherd" Hogg Hardie (ON 1201) arrived on station, and will become the Dover lifeboat after a period of crew training. The lifeboat is the oldest Severn-class in the RNLI fleet, formerly 17-02 The Will, but from 2019, underwent a complete upgrade process, known as the Severn Life Extension Programme (SLEP), giving the vessel a further 25-years of operational life. 17-09 City of London II (ON 1220) was withdrawn from service at Dover on 13 May 2026.
Station honours Among the awards won by Dover's crews over the years are 19 RNLI medals for bravery, six silver and 13 bronze, the last being awarded in 1998.
The following are awards made at Dover:
RNLI Silver Medal Major Henry Scott, Chairman of the Dover Branch – 1882 James Woodgate, Coxswain – 1891 James Woodgate, Coxswain – 1893 (Second-Service clasp) Colin H. Bryant, Coxswain – 1940 Arthur Liddon, Coxswain/Mechanic – 1976 Roy William Couzens, Acting Coxswain – 1988
RNLI Bronze Medal Sidney T. Hills, Second Coxswain – 1940 Wilfred L. Cook, Mechanic – 1940 Christian R. T. Stock, Second Mechanic – 1940 Lt. Richard Walker, RNR, Assistant King’s Harbour Master – 1940 John Walker, Coxswain – 1951 John Walker, Coxswain – 1956 (Second-Service clasp) Anthony George Hawkins, Second Coxswain/Assistant Mechanic – 1976 Michael Frederick Abbott, Acting Assistant Mechanic/Emergency Coxswain – 1988 Geoffrey Ian Buckland, crew member – 1988 Dominic William McHugh, crew member – 1988 Christopher William Ryan, crew member – 1988 Robert John Bruce, crew member – 1988 Eric St.John Tanner, crew member – 1988
The Maud Smith Award 1987 Roy Couzens, Acting Coxswain – 1988
The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum Richard John Hawkins, Second Assistant Mechanic – 1976 John James Smith, crew member – 1976 Gordon David, crew member – 1976 Arthur Liddon, Coxswain Mechanic – 1977 Anthony George Hawkins, Second Coxswain/Assistant Mechanic – 1977 Anthony George Hawkins, Coxswain/Mechanic – 1981 Anthony George Hawkins, Coxswain/Mechanic – 1992 David Pascall, crew member – 1992 Rodney Goldsack, crew member – 1992
A Framed Letter of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution G. V. James, crew member – 1979 Anthony George Hawkins, Coxswain/Assistant Mechanic – 1982 Dover Lifeboat Crew – 1982 Anthony George Hawkins, Coxswain/Assistant Mechanic – 1985 Dover Lifeboat Crew and Shore helpers – 1985 The crews of the motor launches Darg, Denise and of the tug Dextrous – 1985 Anthony George Hawkins, Coxswain/Assistant Mechanic – 1993
A Special Certificate on Vellum Dr Sotiris Mantoudis – 1977 Dr Peter Welch, honorary medical adviser – 1981
Plaque awarded by the Seafarers International Union in New York Dover Lifeboat Station – 1952
Testimonials awarded by the Royal Humane Society Henry Pegg, Motor Mechanic – 1954 W. Wilfred Cook, a travelling mechanic of the Institution – 1954
A letter of commendation from the Institution Dover Lifeboat Station – 1966
A Letter of Appreciation signed by the Director of the Institution The Coxswain and crew – 1979
Member, Order of the British Empire (MBE) Anthony George Hawkins, Coxswain/Assistant Mechanic – 1998QBH
Roll of honour In memory of those lost whilst serving Dover lifeboat.
Crushed by a lifeboat carriage wheel during the launch of Mary Hamer Hoyle (ON 494), 11 September 1903. Alfred Nash, Police Inspector (56)
Dover lifeboats Operated by Dover Humane and Shipwreck Institution ON Name Built Class Comments 1837–1853 – 1836 37-foot Non-self-righting x (12-oared) non-self-righting lifeboat, built by Elvin of Dover. 1853–1855 1853 x (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, funded by Miss Angela Burdett-Coutts and DHSI, built by T. C. Clarkson of London.Altered to Peake design by Forrestt of Limehouse, London in 1855, costing £98
Operated by the RNLI Pulling and Sailing lifeboats ON Name Built Class Comments 1855–1858 1853 28-foot Self-righting (P&S) Later in service with Sunderland Seamen's Association. 1858–1864 Pre-329 1858 x (6-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, London, costing £131. 1864–1878 Pre-422 Royal Wiltshire 1864 32-foot Prowse Self-righting (P&S) x (10-oared) Prowse self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, funded from the collection by Capt. N. J. Reece, RN, of Marlborough, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, London, costing £218. 1878–1888 Pre-636 1878 35-foot Self-righting (P&S) x (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, legacy of Mr H. W. Pickersgill, RA of London, built by Woolfe of Shadwell, London, costing £363. 1888–1901 197 Lewis Morice 1888 37-foot Self-righting (P&S) x (12-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, legacy of Mr J. W. Morice of Erith, built by D. and W. Henderson and Company of Partick, costing £557. 1901–1914 464 Mary Hamer Hoyle 1901 35-foot Self-righting (P&S) x (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, gift of Mr I. Hoyle of Wimbledon, built by Thames Ironworks of Blackwall, London, costing £893. Station Closed 1914–1919
Steam lifeboat ON Name Built Class Comments 1919–1922 420 1898 Station Closed 1922–1930
Motor lifeboats ON Op. No. Name Built Class Comments 1930–1940 725 – 1929 Dover lifeboat. Assigned to the Admiralty in World War II. 1940–1941 663 – Agnes Cross 1921 46-foot 6in Norfolk and Suffolk Reserve lifeboat. Previously John and Mary Meiklam of Gladswood at Gorleston. 1947–1949 694 – J.B. Proudfoot 1924 Previously H.F. Bailey at , and Reserve lifeboat at 1949–1967 860 – Southern Africa 1949 51-foot Barnett 1967–1979 1003 1967 Sold for lifeboat service in Australia. 1979–1997 1031 50-001 Rotary Service 1973 Previously at 1997–2026 1220 17-09 City of London II 1996 Withdrawn from service at Dover on 13 May 2026 tbc 1201 17-51 "Ettrick Shepherd" Hogg Hardie 1994 First of two Severn-class lifeboats to undergo the (now abandoned) Severn Life Extension Programme (SLEP).Formerly 17-02 The Will.
See also List of RNLI stations List of former RNLI stations Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats
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External links
Dover Lifeboat Station