Island Echo always welcomes letters to the editor, which may of course not reflect the views of the publication and its staff.
Letter to the editor – Thursday 18th June 2026
“For those outside the Isle of Wight, the RNLI’s decision to close its East Cowes manufacturing facility may appear to be little more than a restructuring exercise. For those of us who worked there, however, it feels like something far more significant – the closure of a factory that succeeded in everything that was asked of it.
“I was employed by the RNLI for more than 30 years, and every one of those years was spent at the East Cowes factory. I remain deeply proud of the organisation, its volunteers and its lifesaving mission.
Article continues below this advertisement “My career allowed me to witness first-hand the dedication, professionalism and commitment that exists throughout the RNLI, while also seeing the remarkable transformation of the East Cowes operation over 3 decades.
“I saw the factory evolve, adapt and improve. I saw employees embrace change, adopt new ways of working and continually seek opportunities to improve efficiency, quality and value for money.
“It is precisely because of that experience, and because of the pride I still feel in having been part of the RNLI, that I feel compelled to speak out about the proposed closure of the East Cowes facility.
A factory that delivered
“The official explanation focuses on consolidation, efficiency and future operational requirements.
“Yet what makes this decision so difficult to accept is that the East Cowes facility was not a struggling operation. It was not failing. It was not inefficient. In fact, quite the opposite.
Article continues below this advertisement “Over the years, employees transformed the factory through the adoption of Lean manufacturing principles. Staff worked tirelessly to eliminate waste, improve productivity, streamline processes and create a culture of continuous improvement.
“This commitment was not a one-off exercise. Processes were continually reviewed, challenged and refined to ensure waste did not creep back into the system.
“The workforce did not simply maintain standards – it continually pushed the boundaries of what could be achieved.
Proven against external competition
“The East Cowes facility was subjected to rigorous competitive tendering exercises to determine whether the RNLI could obtain its lifeboats more economically from external manufacturers.
“Time and again, the East Cowes workforce demonstrated that it could compete successfully on both cost and quality.
“Virtually every Atlantic 85 lifeboat operating around the coasts of the United Kingdom and Ireland was built by the skilled workforce at East Cowes. Only a small number were produced elsewhere as part of competitive trials.
“So respected was the East Cowes operation that employees were, on occasion, sent to assist external contractors, helping to resolve build issues and improve quality.
“The very workforce whose future is now being brought into question was often called upon to share its expertise with companies that were supposed to be competing against it.
More than just a factory
“The contribution of East Cowes extended far beyond building new lifeboats.
“The workforce also played a key role in delivering boats to stations around the coast, ensuring technical knowledge accompanied each vessel during handover.
“The site also became the principal centre for major repairs, refits and maintenance of the RNLI’s inshore fleet.
“Highly skilled technicians, engineers and boatbuilders assessed, repaired and returned vessels to service through carefully managed processes focused on efficiency, quality and value for money.
“East Cowes became far more than a production facility – it became a centre of expertise supporting the entire lifecycle of the RNLI’s inshore fleet.
Questions over the financial case
“One of the main justifications given for closure is that the East Cowes facility requires around £5million of investment to remain compliant and fit for future operations.
“There is no denying that £5million is a substantial sum for a charity funded by donations.
“However, many employees and former employees struggle to understand the logic.
“The East Cowes facility contains decades of accumulated expertise, specialist equipment and established manufacturing systems. Machinery must be relocated or replaced, processes recreated and knowledge transferred.
“Given those realities, many of us struggle to understand how relocation could ultimately represent a lower overall cost than investing in the existing facility.
“If the RNLI’s analysis genuinely demonstrates otherwise, then the organisation should be willing to publish the financial case in greater detail.
“Transparency would benefit everyone.
A workload issue elsewhere?
“Another reason cited for closure is the RNLI’s long-term fleet planning.
“The organisation has indicated that demand for the all-weather lifeboats currently built in Poole is expected to reduce over time, creating concerns about maintaining sufficient work there.
“If that is the case, many East Cowes employees may accept the logic, even if they disagree with the outcome.
“What is difficult to accept, however, is the implication that a workforce which has spent decades building expertise and delivering exceptional value can simply be sacrificed to solve a future workload challenge elsewhere.
“If that is the real reason, employees deserve to hear it openly and honestly.
Think again
“The East Cowes factory was not a failing operation in need of rescue.
“It was a successful operation that had already proven its worth.
“Generations of RNLI volunteers have launched lifeboats built, maintained and supported by East Cowes into some of the harshest conditions around our coastline.
“This is not simply about the loss of jobs. It is about the loss of decades of specialist capability and experience. It is about the impact on families, on the Isle of Wight economy and on a community that has proudly supported the RNLI’s lifesaving mission for generations.
“Employees were told that efficiency mattered. They delivered it.
“Employees were told that quality mattered. They delivered it.
“Employees were told that value for money mattered. They delivered it.
“Employees were told that innovation and continuous improvement mattered. They delivered that too.
“Yet despite achieving everything that was asked of them, they now face the closure of their factory.
“As a former employee, I remain immensely proud of what was achieved at East Cowes.
“The people there built more than lifeboats. They built a culture of commitment, innovation, craftsmanship and continuous improvement that should have been celebrated and invested in.
“My final thought is a simple one: Think again.
“Before this decision becomes irreversible, I urge the RNLI’s leadership and trustees to fully explore every alternative and consider whether the better course of action is not to close this remarkable facility, but to celebrate it, invest in it and allow it to continue serving the lifesaving mission it has supported so proudly for generations.”
