Home page

Welcome to the official web site for the St Peter Port lifeboat!

The Guernsey lifeboat station is one of only four in the Channel Islands. Operating for over 200 years, the crews of the Guernsey lifeboats have been honoured with several awards for gallantry.

Spirit of Guernsey
Spirit of Guernsey battling the waves on Guernsey's south coast - picture by Jonathan Le Ray

The first Lifeboat Station on Guernsey was established at St Sampsons in 1803 following representation to the then States of Guernsey by the Douzaine (local parish council) of St Peter Port. The Station was taken over by the RNLI in 1861 and subsequently moved to St Peter Port, where it is presently based, in 1881.

The Station has seen a variety of lifeboats over the years and the current lifeboat is the Severn class 'Spirit of Guernsey'. The Island has always been proud to support the Lifeboat Station and crews; in 1973 a special appeal raised a considerable sum towards the cost of the Arun Class "Sir William Arnold".

Twenty years later an appeal was launched to raise £1 million to support the building of "Spirit of Guernsey". Thanks to the generosity of friends in Guernsey, Sark, Herm and further afield, the target was achieved within one year.

The RNLI relies entirely on voluntary donations.


Guernsey's safety and official fleet

Records show that the Guernsey Lifeboats have been launched over 1,330 times and saved almost 600 lives. Guernsey can be extremely proud of the many Coxswains and crew who have accumulated a most impressive number of RNLI gallantry awards with no less than 2 Gold Medals, 8 Silver Medals and 15 Bronze Medals being awarded since 1861. There were also 6 Silver Medals awarded before the RNLI took over the Station. In addition, the bravery and skill of local crews have been recognised by several foreign Governments with awards from France, Norway, Greece and Liberia. This show of bravery is almost unparalleled by any other RNLI Station in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland.

Picture by Brian Green

Registered Charity Number 209603 - for the Official RNLI web site, please visit www.rnli.org.uk


Man Overboard

At about 00:45 this morning the French yacht Jouvente, having just arrived in St Peter Port advised the duty Marina staff that they had a man in the water. When questioned further it transpired that this had not just occurred but had in fact occurred at around 21:00 on Saturday, off the Hanois Lighthouse. The lifeboat crew were immediately paged and the Channel Island Air Search crew soon after. The lifeboat departed St Peter Port at 01:10 and Channel Island Air Search took off shortly afterwards.

“Spirit of Guernsey” launched to assist “Restless”a local Fast Fisher (7.0m)

0259 3rd February, 2013 A call was received from the local Cabin Cruiser “Restless”, just east of the Lower Heads, Little Russel, that she had lost all her electrics along with her engine and was unable to proceed. Unfortunately, at this time, there was no other vessel to assist the casualty so the “Spirit of Guernsey” was tasked to rescue the vessel.

0300 Lifeboat Yellow

0322 Lifeboat pierheads.... proceeding

“Spirit of Guernsey” launched to assist “Amy-Blue ”a local fishing boat (14.3m)

At 1753 on Wednesday 30th January, 2013, a call was received from the local fishing boat “Amy Blue”, just north of the Beq Du Nez, Sark

She had fouled her propeller with a discarded net or rope and was having difficulty making way with the strong Spring Tides. Unfortunately, at this time,there was no other vessel to assist the casualty. ”HMS St Albans” was in Guernsey waters carrying out navigation exercises and kindly offered any assistance that she could offer to assist with the Casualty.

“Spirit of Guernsey” launched to assist “Hayley-B”a local fishing boat (9.8m)

At 1503hrs on Monday 12th November 2012, a call was received from the local fishing boat “Hayley B”, nine miles south from St Martin`s Point that she had lost her steering and was having difficulty making way under hand steering. Unfortunately there was no other vessel to assist the casualty.

1513 Lifeboat Yellow
1534 Lifeboat pier heads proceeding to the Casualty.
1600 “Spirit of Guernsey” alongside Casualty, tow being established.
1700 “Spirit of Guernsey” and the “Hayley B” back at St Peter Port

Assistance for fishing vessel “Hayley B”

At 0750 on Sunday 28th October, Guernsey Coastguard received a call from the fishing vessel “Hayley B” approximately (7 nautical miles SW of Guernsey) with engine problems.

The Lifeboat launched at 0810 as the Hayley B was unable to proceed and found the casualty with 3 crewmen onboard at 0903.

The Lifeboat secured a tow line to the “Hayley B” and returned to St Peter Port Harbour arriving at 1104

St Peter Port Lifeboat Newsletter

The St Peter Port Lifeboat has launched its 2012 newsletter "Shout" which can be downloaded using the link above

If you would like to be added to the Guernsey mailing list, please send us your e-mail address using the following contact form http://www.rnli.org.gg/contact and select Harbourmaster's Office

Thank you

“Spirit of Guernsey” Launched to assist fishing vessel

At 1729 on Sunday 7th October, 2012, Guernsey Coastguard received a call from the fishing vessel “Petit Mel” reporting engine problems with smoke in the engine room, with one crewman onboard and the vessel drifting in a position 3nm Northeast of Guernsey the St Peter Port Lifeboat was launched.

The Lifeboat departed St Peter Port at 1753 and found the “Petit Mel” drifting towards the Brayes at 1809; the Lifeboat then towed the vessel back to St Peter Port harbour arriving at 1845.

“Spirit of Guernsey”Launched to assist vessel out of Fuel

At 00.05 on Tuesday 21st August, 2012, Guernsey Coastguard received a 999 call from the local boat “Sandpiper” reporting no fuel and lost in the Big Russel with 2 people on board after returning from Sark.

The Lifeboat departed St Peter Port at 0026 and searched the area; at 0445 the Lifeboat found the Sandpiper 5nm off the North West coast of Guernsey and towed the vessel back to St Peter Port harbour arriving at approximately 0600.

“Spirit of Guernsey” launched to assist cruiser East of Sark

At 1020 this morning (Monday 9th July 2012) Guernsey Coastguard received a mayday call from the motor cruiser “Omerta” approximately 2nm East of Sark with a possible fire on board.

Other vessels in the area responded to the call, and the Lifeboat departed St Peter Port at 1035 to assist the crew of 2 onboard the “Omerta” (a 36’ local motor cruiser)

At approximately 1040 the “Omerta” reported the possible fire was extinguished.

The Lifeboat made contact with the casualty at 1101 and escorted the casualty back to St Sampson harbour arriving at approximately 1200.

Subscribe to Front page feed

Website produced and maintained by Colin S Le Conte, Digimap Ltd

Powered by Drupal