St Helier Lifeboat Station is located at St Helier, capital of the Bailiwick of Jersey, and main port of the island of Jersey, a self-governing British Crown Dependency and largest of the Channel Islands.
A lifeboat was first stationed at St Helier by the States of Jersey in 1830. Management of the station was taken over by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1884.
The station currently operates an All-weather lifeboat, 16-12 George Sullivan (ON 1292), and a Inshore lifeboat, The Spirit of St Helier (B-934).
History In January 1825, just after the founding of the Royal National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck (RNIPLS), the cutter Fanny, on passage to Jersey from St Malo, ran aground and was wrecked near Elizabeth Castle. Rescuers managed to save 13 of the 18 passengers and crew, and three Gold Medals, and a Silver Medal were awarded to their rescuers.
Three years later, a second boat named Fanny, of St Malo, with the same Master, Captain Destouches, ran aground on rocks from St Helier, and 13 lost their lives. This would finally prompt John Le Couteur to raise the matter of a Lifeboat with the States of Jersey, suggesting that two boats be provided. For his efforts, £150 was granted by the States, that would provide just one lifeboat, a carriage and boathouse. A lifeboat was constructed at Rozel of Trinity by Mr Lillington of Weymouth, and a boathouse was built at Havre des Pas. Jersey would have a lifeboat station in 1830.
No service records have been found for the 1830 lifeboat. But it is known that by 1861, the boat was unfit for purpose. A letter was sent to the RNLI by Philip De St Croix requesting that a new lifeboat and carriage be supplied, which was funded by the States of Jersey. The lifeboat was constructed by Forrestt of Limehouse, and tested on the Regent's Canal. The boat, equipment and carriage, constructed by Robinson of Camden Town, were then transported to Jersey free of charge by the Cheesewright and Miskin Steam Packet Company, arriving in November 1861.
On 2 November 1872, the Isabella Northcote was wrecked on the Écréhous rock. Two farmers and a labourer set out in a small boat, and saved 18 people. They were each awarded the RNLI Silver Medal.
In 1884, the RNLI station at was closed after operating for just 15 years, as there were difficulties in maintaining a crew. The closure came at the same time that the existing Jersey States lifeboat had become unfit for service. The offer of a replacement lifeboat from the RNLI was readily accepted, and a site near the Picket House at West Park (now People's Park) was provided, where a new boathouse was constructed at a cost of £385. A local management committee was formed, with Philip Baudins, Constable of St Helier, being appointed Honorary Secretary. The Alderney life-boat Mary and Victoria was transferred to St Helier in April 1884.
Mary and Victoria was never called in 15 years on service at , and as possibly the most underused lifeboat, she would also never be called in the next four years on service at St Helier. She was replaced in 1888 by one of three lifeboats funded from the bequest of the late Col. E. A. D. Brooshoft, of Kirk Ella, near Kingston upon Hull, the 34-foot lifeboat Sarah Brooshoft, Kirk Ella (ON 153).
Improvements to the Jersey promenade in 1896 required the West Park lifeboat house to be relocated. It was reconstructed on St Helier harbour, near South Pier, with a door at both ends, allowing the carriage and lifeboat to be accessed for transportation elsewhere should it be required. In 1912, the slipway was extended. The boathouse is used today by the Jersey Rowing Club.
In 1906, Jersey RNLI lifeboat would finally perform its first service, recovering three workmen by Breeches buoy, after they were stranded overnight on Demie de Pas lighthouse when the weather turned.
In 1929, a motor-powered lifeboat was placed at , Guernsey. At a meeting of the RNLI and the local Jersey branch, it was agreed that there was no longer a need for a lifeboat in Jersey, and the lifeboat was to be withdrawn. This was never actioned. St Helier would get their first motor-powered lifeboat, the Howard D (ON 797), a single engine lifeboat, in 1937
Just a few days before the German invasion of Jersey in 1940, a last minute attempt was made to remove the lifeboat to England. The Guernsey relief lifeboat Alfred and Clara Heath (ON 672) was dispatched to collect the Jersey lifeboat, and tow it to the Isle of Wight, but on passage to Jersey, it was strafed by German aircraft and Harold Hobbs, son of the Coxswain Fred Hobbs, was killed. The attempt was ultimately abandoned, and the Guernsey lifeboat was allowed to return to Guernsey. Under German control for the next five years, it was later found that the St Helier lifeboat had been launched a number of times during the war, with the crew under German guard, and had saved 35 lives.
On 13 September 1949. the 45-foot Watson relief lifeboat Hearts of Oak (ON 684) was launched to find a French aircraft. After 8 hours in rough seas, and with nothing found, the lifeboat was redirected to the aid of the yacht Maurice George. The yacht and four lives were saved. Coxswain Thomas James King was awarded the RNLI Gold Medal, with the rest of the crew being awarded bronze medals.
The lifeboat 47-039 Alexander Countanche (ON 1157) was placed on service in 1989. Coxswain Robert Vezier received the "Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum" for his role when the lifeboat was involved in Jersey's biggest maritime disaster, a multi-agency rescue of 307 people from the French passenger catamaran Saint Malo operated by Channiland Ferries, was holed and starting to sink after hitting an object off La Corbière.
On 17 November 2017, a breakdown in relations between the RNLI and the Jersey Lifeboat Crew prompted the temporary removal from the island, of the lifeboat 16-12 George Sullivan (ON 1292). All Jersey lifeboat crew were stood down or resigned. Former crew members went on to form the independent lifeboat service Jersey Lifeboat Association, and currently operate a former RNLI lifeboat 47-018 Max Aitken III (ON 1126), now renamed Sir Max Aitken III.
The George Sullivan was returned to the Island on 5 December 2017, with full service resumed in March 2018, after further training of new crew.
On Monday 18 November 2024, a service of dedication was held at Jersey lifeboat station, to formally unveil a mural depicting former coxswain Thomas James King, painted on the side of the station building. The mural was commissioned to celebrate the 200th Anniversary of the RNLI. Lifeboat operations manager Nigel Sweeny said: "The mural is a very visible commemoration of a decorated lifeboatman and will serve to remind us of all those volunteers who have come before us."
It was announced by the RNLI on 2 October 2025, that following a strategic review of resources across the entire service, the three lifeboat stations in the Channel Islands, , in Guernsey and St Helier, would each be assigned a All-weather lifeboat over the following three years, replacing the , and lifeboats on station.
Notable rescues In 1949, Coxswain Thomas James King was awarded the RNLI Gold Medal, the Institutions highest award, for a double service. Returning towards home in poor conditions, in the reserve lifeboat Hearts of Oak (ON 684), after a six-hour search for a missing aircraft, the crew were tasked to the 10-tonne yacht Maurice Georges, which had run aground on the reef to the north-east of the Demie de Pas lighthouse. Risking an unfamiliar boat on the rocky shore, the Coxswain brought the lifeboat as close as possible to the yacht, managing to get a tow-line aboard, and pulled the vessel and three crew from likely catastrophe to safety. The lifeboat had been at sea for over nine hours. The seven lifeboat crew would each receive the RNLI Bronze Medal.
Station honours The following are awards made at St Helier, Jersey.
RNIPLS Gold Medal Francis De St Croix – 1825 Jean De St Croix – 1825 Philip De St Croix – 1825
RNLI Gold Medal Thomas James King, Coxswain – 1949
RNIPLS Silver Medal Philip Nicholle – 1825
RNLI Silver Medal Charles Blampied, Farmer – 1872 John Bouchard, Labourer – 1872 Elias Whitley, Farmer – 1872
Edward Larbelestier, Coxswain – 1951
Michael Edward Berry, Coxswain – 1974
Michael Edward Berry, Coxswain – 1983 (Second-Service clasp)
RNLI Bronze Medal Philip Boutell, crew member – 1949 Kenneth S. Gubbey, crew member – 1949 David Robert Talbot, crew member – 1949 Charles George King, crew member – 1949 Reginald John Nicholle, crew member – 1949 George Stapely, crew member – 1949 Lionel Percival Stevens, Honorary Secretary, crew member – 1949
Silver Harry Le Riche, Acting Coxswain – 1950
Michael Edward Berry, Coxswain – 1983
The Thanks of the Institution inscribed on Vellum Edward Larbalestier, Coxswain – 1953
Eric Grandin, Coxswain – 1967
St Helier Lifeboat Crew – 1974
St Helier Lifeboat Crew – 1983
Robert Vezier, Coxswain – 1995
Letters of commendation signed by the Chairman of the Institution Coxswain and Crew – 1964
Member, Order of the British Empire (MBE) Capt. Roy Malcolm Bullen – 1997QBH
St Helier lifeboats States of Jersey lifeboats Name Class Comments 1830–1861 A lifeboat 1861–188430-foot Peake Self-righting (P&S) 30-foot x 7-foot (8-oared) Peake-class self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, London.
Pulling and Sailing (P&S) lifeboats ON Name Built Class Comments Mary and Victoria 1869 1884–188833-foot Peake Self-righting (P&S) 33-foot x 8-foot 7in (10-oared) Peake-class self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, gift of the Earl of Strafford, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, London, costing £276 when new.Previously at . 153 1887 1888–1910 34-foot x 8-foot (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, legacy of Col. E. A. D. Brooshoft of Kirk Ella, Yorkshire, built by Watkins & Co. of Blackwall, London, costing £409 when new.Previously Mary Isabella at 370 Lily Bird 1894 1910–1912 34-foot Self-righting (P&S) 34-foot x 8-foot (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, gift of Mr S. Bird of East Cowes, built by Forrestt of Limehouse, London, costing £370 when new.Reserve lifeboat No.5, previously at and . 625 William Henry Wilkinson 1911 1912–1937 35-foot Self-righting (P&S) 35-foot x 8-foot 6in (10-oared) self-righting (P&S) lifeboat, gift of Miss E. Wilkinson of Brixton, built by the Thames Ironworks, of Blackwall, London, costing £979.
All-weather lifeboats ON Op. No. Name Built Class Comments 797 – Howard D 1937 1937–1948 Liverpool-class lifeboat, built by Saunders Roe, single 35 hp engine providing 7¼ knots, costing £3,623. 865 – Elizabeth Rippon 1948 1948–1975 1034 44-013 Thomas James King 1974 1975–1989 1157 1989 1989–2009 1292 16-12 George Sullivan 2009 2009–
Inshore lifeboats Op. No. Name Class Comments B-756 Eve Pank 2005–2007 B-816 David Page 2007–2022 2022–
See also List of RNLI stations List of former RNLI stations Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats
Notes
References
External links St Helier RNLI Lifeboat Station