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Lifeboat station set to move to new location

Andrew Turner
BBC News, Norfolk
Andrew Turner/BBC The Great Yarmouth River Port Pilots' Station in Gorleston is an red brick building of the 1970s, with a number of white-framed windows, and a shallow-pitched roof. In the foreground is brick-weave paving, with markings on the ground, and some hand rails and steps down to the river. Beyond the river, on the opposite back, are a series of port buildings and structures.Andrew Turner/BBC
The RNLI has signed a lease on the old port pilots station which will see the Gorleston Lifeboat relocate from the existing station further down river

Gorleston Lifeboat station is set to be relocated  - but the RNLI says a lot of work has to be done before it can say whether a new vessel can be brought back to the station.

The Shannon class George and Frances Phelon was delivered to the station in September 2023, but was taken away again because of unsuitable moorings.

On Sunday the local branch of the RNLI announced a deal had been signed to acquire the former pilot station from the Great Yarmouth Port Authority, meaning the new boat would eventually return.

But in a statement, the charity said: "A lot of work is now needed to understand what is required and to prepare that site to be a base for RNLI search and rescue operations."

RNLI/Facebook The RNLI Lifeboat fleet numbered 13-44, the George and Frances Phelon, under power with white sea spray either side of the hull. Two crew members can be seen in yellow waterproof clothing on the fly bridge of the vessel. In the backdrop is a series of silos and buildings, with cliffs and trees visible.RNLI/Facebook
The George and Frances Phelon lifeboat has been placed at Falmouth for crew training while the RNLI investigated solutions to improve moorings at Gorleston
Andrew Turner/BBC The Gorleston Trent class lifeboat in its mooring at Gorleston Lifeboat Station. It is framed by handrails and a drawbridge for access. In the foreground is concrete hardstanding, and a set of steps up to the lifeboat station. Beyond the River Yare is a set of storage silos and other port buildings in Great Yarmouth.Andrew Turner/BBC
The moorings at Gorleston Lifeboat Station were deemed unsuitable for the Shannon class lifeboat which saw the vessel taken into storage before it was placed in Falmouth for crew training

The move comes after the RNLI delivered, then withdrew, the George and Frances Phelon vessel, saying the moorings were unsuitable.

The vessel was taken out of the water and stored in Lowestoft during the summer of 2024, and taken to Falmouth, Cornwall later that year so crew could be trained on the Shannon class lifeboat.

That means the 29-year old Trent class lifeboat remains in service despite the crew passing out on training for the new vessel.

The move to the pilot station means suitable moorings can be built away from swell conditions that risked damaging the new vessel which is named after a couple from Bradford who left more than £3m to the institution.

Andrew Turner/BBC The Gorleston Lifeboat Station building is a Suffolk White brick building with red relief in bands and lintels. Fencing surrounds the building, and a blue launch Derrick crane stands on a platform outside which is used to lower the inshore Atlantic 85 lifeboat into service. Beyond the river, is the Great Yarmouth power station, and other port buildings are visible in the area.Andrew Turner/BBC
The moorings at the Gorleston Lifeboat Station have been deemed unsuitable for the Shannon class lifeboat, which has been taken into the relief fleet

In a post on the Great Yarmouth and Gorleston Lifeboat Station Facebook page, local members said: "With plans to relocate the pilots over the river, the Port Authority decided to offer the station to the RNLI.

"There will be a lot of work to do to make it accommodating and operational so don't expect to see us there anytime soon but the most important thing is that we now have a berth for our Shannon 13-44, the RNLI's first ever Legacy Lifeboat."

But the post was removed from the social media account and a statement from the charity's headquarters has not confirmed whether or when the Shannon lifeboat will return to the Norfolk station.

It said: "While negotiations were underway for the new site, The George and Frances Phelon has been used in the relief fleet where she is much-needed so that other lifeboats of the same type can undergo essential repairs and maintenance.

"She has already been used in the training of volunteers so they have the right skills and can crew our modern all-weather lifeboats to optimum effect.

"The station's all-weather Trent class lifeboat, Samarbeta remains on service and ready to respond to those in need – as does the station's Atlantic 85 John Rowntree."

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