The RNLI is closing its Inshore Lifeboat Centre in East Cowes after more than 60 years of operations – a major blow to local employment and the wider Isle of Wight economy.
Staff at the lifeboat centre were informed today (Tuesday) that the facility will be shutting down by the end of 2027, with production set to move to the charity’s manufacturing site at the Support Centre in Poole, Dorset.
The decision affects around 70 skilled workers currently based at the East Cowes site, although a final proposal is expected next year following a formal consultation with staff.
Established in 1963, the Inshore Lifeboat Centre has been the RNLI’s dedicated hub for building and refitting the charity’s fleet of D-class and Atlantic 85 lifeboats. On average, a boat is completed every 59 hours – either newly built or modernised to meet the high standards required by the RNLI’s lifesaving crews.
The centre also became home to a Visitor and Heritage Centre in 2018, offering free public tours and showcasing the RNLI’s long-standing presence in East Cowes.
The decision to close the Isle of Wight facility is said to be due to expcted demand for production falling by a third in the future, meaning there will simply not be enough work to justify 2 facilities.
Being an older, smaller facility, it is estimated that the East Cowes’ ILC will require around £5million of capital investment to remain compliant, while Poole is a newer, larger and more capable site.
In a statement, Ross Barraclough, RNLI Chief Engineer and Technical Director, has said:
“Use of the sea around the UK is changing – our data shows 98% of all RNLI rescues now are within 10 nautical miles of the shore compared to years ago when demand was for commercial fishing further offshore. For us to continue delivering our core purpose of saving lives at sea, the charity needs to evolve and respond to the changing demand on our service.
“Our 2040 Lifeboat Fleet Strategy determines what is needed to ensure we have the right lifeboats in the right locations to continue saving lives into our third century. In response, we need to ensure we can build these boats in the most efficient way, adapting our production delivery to make sure we continue to use our supporter’s money wisely and operate sustainably.
“This change in need represents a major shift in demand for our production teams, with an anticipated reduction of around 82,000 production hours and whilst it is a difficult decision we need to consider proposals that will reduce our future footprint and cost base.
Article continues below this advertisement “I fully recognise the dedication and commitment of our Inshore Lifeboat Centre team and understand the impact of this proposal on not only themselves but the wider RNLI family on the Isle of Wight. We will be working closely with them over the next few months to discuss options within this proposal and support individuals”.
The closure represents yet another setback for the Isle of Wight’s industrial sector, removing dozens of skilled jobs from the East Cowes labour market and ending a decades-long legacy of maritime manufacturing on the site.
The news comes after a turbulent year for the Isle of Wight job market, with major redundancies announced at Vestas, Wyld, Hovertravel, Kingswood, Snows Isle of Wight, Liz Earle, GTI Glazing and the National Trust, among others.
Use of the sea around the UK is changing – our data shows 98% of all RNLI rescues now are within 10 nautical miles of the shore
yes.as an illegal immigrant water taxi
“yes.as an illegal immigrant water taxi”
Do you have any actual evidence to back up that claim ??]
or are you just repeating the mis-information claims made by others ??
Hello, even the BBC, that great lover of all things illegal shows pictures daily of lifeboats bringing ashore illegals, a friend at newhaven lifeboast station has told me there has only been sixteen days in the last year when they have not been out on such taxi collection exercises.
That would be just over 1% of all RNLI rescues relate to channel jobs. Do some research before commenting.
they have been acting as an illegal immigrant taxi service and the RNLI are now suffering the consequences of a lack of donations – perhaps they shouldn’t be ferrying these unwanteds here
ah,.. another one just repeating the same old unproven misinformation / lies given out by Farage & co
no it isn’t it is a fact – stop pandering to these illegals – they aren’t welcome
It’s fact people have stopped donating to the rnli because of immigrants.
What a sad blow to the Island. I do understand RNLI’s imperative to maximise efficiency of operations, but there is an inconsistency here. Their Chief Engineer and Technical Director says “our data shows 98% of all RNLI rescues now are within 10 nautical miles of the shore compared to years ago when demand was for commercial fishing further offshore”. That implies that they need *more* inshore lifeboats. Yet your article says “The decision to close the Isle of Wight facility is said to be due to expected demand for production *falling* by a third in the future”. I don’t understand.
perhaps you should ask leanna lakes – who is now running the show after making a mess of red funnel
More Job losses under this Labour Government
as the RNLI is a charity, and has no government funding or control, and their work relates, in the most part, to leisure activities, and the (often ill considered, and unprepared) actions of those who take part in them,….
can you explain how these job losses can, in any way, be related to having a Labour governemnt ?
The cost of business and doing business has gone up with government policy: energy; national insurance; pension contributions; business rates. This is leading to job losses in the charity sector, perhaps that is what Enough is Enough is referring to?
A commercial business that purports to be a charity! That’s the RNLI. All that gobbledegook about commercial imperative, is fundamentally at odds with charitable purpose of supporting good outcomes & coastal communities. All they want is more cash to pay the executive leadership bigger pay checks. I for one won’t give anything to this organistion that is needlessly cruel and lost its way.
I also am not enamoured by the RNLI . Especially their lack of support for the many independent lifeboats who do a difficult and much needed job on a shoestring.
The clue is in the name, Independent. On the whole they don’t want anything to do with the RNLI.
I hope I’m wrong but unfortunately I don’t have any faith that a formal consultation between the RNLI bosses and the staff bringing about anything other than the inevitable.
They held a consultation at ILC previously following a trial of a compressed working work.
The outcome of the “trial” (which was supposed to lead to money saving efficiencies aimed at securing the sites future) had already been determined before the end of the “trial” despite certain staff objections.
Those that opposed it were given a choice of signing the new contract terms or face having their contracts terminated by a certain lapdog manager trying to feather their own cap.
It will be a crying shame if the RNLI move production of the inshore fleet to Poole as ILC has a highly skilled workforce and have produced a great product consistently for many years.
I hope I’m wrong but unfortunately I don’t have any faith that a formal consultation between the RNLI bosses and the staff bringing about anything other than the inevitable.
They held a consultation at ILC previously following a trial of a compressed working work.
The outcome of the “trial” (which was supposed to lead to money saving efficiencies aimed at securing the sites future) had already been determined before the end of the “trial” despite certain staff objections.
Those that opposed it were given a choice of signing the new contract terms or face having their contracts terminated by a certain lapdog manager trying to feather his own cap.
It will be a crying shame if the RNLI move production of the inshore fleet to Poole as ILC has a highly skilled workforce and have produced a great product consistently for many years.
Your job is safe, if you uproot and move to Poole!