Brief History of Station

This station was established as a full time inshore lifeboat station in 1980 mainly because of an increase in pleasure boating activity in the area. In 1982 it was upgraded to a full time operational station and a twin engine D class was placed on service. During this time the D class and Helmsman John Desmond Rogers were awarded RNLI Bronze medals for their part in a daring rescue of a yacht that had run aground in force ten storm conditions.

In December 1986, as a result of an appeal by Blue Peter, the station was presented with an Atlantic 21. The new lifeboat was named Blue Peter V and was launched with a bottle of milk by a 10-year-old-girl, Paula Trainor. A new boathouse was then built the following year to house this new boat.

In 1994 a new Atlantic 75 inshore lifeboat, also named Blue Peter V, replaced the Atlantic 21. (The Atlantic 75 is the fastest sea going lifeboat in the RNLI’s fleet and is capable of speeds up to 34 Knots.) The lifeboat was donated to Portaferry following a secondary appeal by the Blue Peter programme.

There have been a total of 3 Blue Peter lifeboats at Portaferry since 1980. The current lifeboat is a B class rigid inflatable.

For the most recent information about Portaferry lifeboat station, please click here