Port Erin History

1884 The RNLI established a lifeboat station and a boathouse was built by the harbour.

1900 A slipway was built on the headland at the back of the harbour to improve launching. The lifeboat was taken to the slipway by carriage but could be launched from other sites if necessary.

1925 A new boathouse and slipway were built for the station’s first motor lifeboat.

1970 A Bronze Medal was awarded to Coxswain Alfred Maddrell BEM and an additional £5 monetary award was presented to the Coxswain and six remaining crew members for rescuing two sole survivors from the coaster Moonlight.

1978 The Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum was awarded to Coxswain Peter Woodworth for rescuing three divers who had become trapped at the base of a 700ft cliff north of Fleshwick Bay.

1983 A Centenary Vellum was awarded to the station.

1992 The all weather Rother class lifeboat was withdrawn from service on 22 June and the station temporarily closed. Modifications were made to the slipway, a new launching trolley was made and a new lifting beam was installed for the station’s new inshore lifeboat, the B class Atlantic 21 lifeboat.

 The station reopened on 24 July as an inshore lifeboat station with an Atlantic 21 lifeboat.

1993 The Rother class lifeboat Osman Gabriel, stationed at Port Erin from 1973 until June 1992 was sold to the Estonian Lifeboat Service (Eesti Vetelpaasteuhingu).

 The Atlantic 21, B-594 Herbert and Edith, was placed on service.

1996 A two-storey extension to the boathouse was built providing a souvenir sales outlet, an office and improved crew facilities.

2001  His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent, President of the RNLI, visited the station on 30 October.

2006 A slipway and boathouse adaptation was completed in June.

 The new Atlantic 85 lifeboat Muriel and Leslie was placed on service on 1 November.

Station honours

At Port Erin lifeboat station the following awards have been made:

Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum 1
Bronze Medal 1