On Tuesday 24th January, 2023 the longest serving station pier has finally left her mooring where she has been since the opening of Victoria embankment in 1870. The superstructure has changed a few times but now it’s all change and upgrades. She will be still afloat BUT to be used by Thames Marine Services on the Monarch Pier, Erith, where it will serve as one of six electrical charging facilities on the Thames as part of Net Zero Marine Services.
After 150 years, the pontoon serving as a base for the Tower RNLI Station on the Thames beside Waterloo Bridge, has finally outlived its usefulness and the crews have moved temporarily to shore-based HMS President, the Royal Naval Reserve’s training facility in London, close to Tower Bridge. They will continue to maintain their vital full-time life-saving service on the Thames while their new station is completed and set in her place.
In action straight away on January 9th, their first day at HMS President, the Tower RNLI crew were called out three times.
The new station is being built at King George V Dock, East London now part of the redeveloped Docklands. The new station, which will provide the crew and casualties with facilities fit for the future, is due to be floated into position in March. She will be at the same site as the old station and is due to go on service in April. Below here are images of the E Class Mark II lifeboat at the pier back to October, 2013.
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Published – Wednesday 25th January, 2023.