Portaferry RNLI Lifeboat Station
Lifeboat House, The Strand, Portaferry, Co Down, BT22 1PF, Northern Ireland

Website established 1999

Welcome to the 'Home Page' of   Portaferry Lifeboat Station

Follow us on our Facebook page

Visit the RNLI On-Line Shop here


 

Our latest 'SHOUT'

8 November 2025 @ 11.40am

Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) with engine failure South of the Strangford Fairway Buoy - 7 persons on board

More Information here

Former 'Shouts' - Years 2000 to 2022

 

WATER SAFETY INFORMATION

To request 'Water Safety' talks, lifeboat station visits, life-jacket clinics, etc, find information here  

Interested in joining our Volunteer Lifeboat Crew, or helping in many ways ashore?   
You can find more information here

If you are interested in the history of the lifeboat stations of the Ards Peninsula you can find this here

Our station's 'Scrapbook Page' contains a history of the earlier years of Portaferry Lifeboat - 'Blue Peter V'  Find out here

News & Events

BBC2 Northern Ireland
broadcast an episode of
'Saving Lives at Sea'
on 5th September
which included the rescue of two kayakers by the crew of
Portaferry RNLI Lifeboat
in challenging sea conditions.

The rescue can be viewed again on
BBC iPlayer
Series 10:6.
Hunt for Missing Kayakers



PAST EVENTS

More information here

Portaferry EuroSpar collection raises funds for the RNLI

Colin Watson
Chronicler and Station friend remembered

Lifeboat Crew members receive
'Letters of Commendation'
awarded by the
RNLI Lifesaving Operations Director

Lord Lieutenant of County Down presents
King's Coronation Medals

Paddy Lowry appointed as new
Lifeboat Helm

Lifeboat Helm and Crew receive the Chief Executive's Commendation

Scott Blackwood
appointed as new
Lifeboat Helm

Billy Ellison remembered

Joint Man-Overboard Exercise with the Strangford Ferry & HM Coastguard
9 June 2024


RNLI 200 Thanksgiving Service
Portaferry Community Centre
Sunday 26 May 2024 @ 3.00pm

RNLI 200 Civic Reception at
Bangor Castle

Portaferry RNLI represented at the
RNLI 200 Thanksgiving Service
in Westminster Abbey

Mark Browne Remembered

'The Sound of Christmas' Concert
Queen's Hall - Newtownards
Friday 7th December @7pm

Welcome Heather Kennedy LOM

 

18 Portaferry RNLI Volunteers receive awards

Joan Peacock recognised for over 20 years of fundraising

Pat Browne awarded the BEM in the Queen's Birthday Honours

Portavogie New Year's Dip raises £810

 

 

Portaferry Lifeboat

Photo: RNLI - Colin Watson

'Blue Peter V'

GENERAL INFORMATION

This web site was establised in 1999 to record and preserve the history of the 'life saving' and fundraising work of the volunteers of Portaferry RNLI Lifeboat Station and that of the Lifeboat Stations of the Ards Peninsula.

Since the Station opened in May 1980 the Portaferry RNLI Lifeboat has been launched over 850 times, rescued 600+ people who were in danger and have been directly responsible for saving the lives of over 100 persons.

Details of our life saving 'shouts' for the past 22 years can be viewed on 'Our Rescues' page. Or here.

Our 'Links' page is updated frequently and is a continuing source of useful nautical, safety and local information for yachtsmen and others planning to visit the area. There are also links to some RNLI historic videos. Information here.

Some of the history of the former Ballywalter, Cloughey and the Cloughey/Portavogie, Donaghadee and Groomsport lifeboat stations can be found here or on our Local RNLI History page. 

To find out about some of the earlier history of Portaferry lifeboat Station click here or go to the Scrapbook page.

 

Portaferry Lifeboat Station is located at Portaferry, County Down, Northern Ireland.

It is the home of 'Blue Peter V', an 'Atlantic 85' lifeboat.

Our lifeboat was presented to the Station by CBBC 'Blue Peter', a current and popular BBC Children's Television programme for over 60 years.

Funding for our 'Blue Peter V' lifeboat was achieved through the efforts of children throughout the United Kingdom and beyond. Both of our previous Blue Peter lifeboats were funded by CBBC 'Blue Peter' and were all named 'Blue Peter V'.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is a charity.

The 'National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck' was founded on 4th March 1824 by Sir William Hillary from the Isle of Man.  

In 1854 the name of the institution was changed to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

Today, the RNLI has 238 lifeboat stations located in strategic locations along the coastline and inland waters of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.  In addition there are many RNLI life-guarded beaches during the summer months.

As in 1824, the life-saving work of the RNLI is made possible through membership contributions, donations and legacies.

To find out how you could join our Crew, assist us with fundraising, or help the RNLI in other ways, please click here

For our younger surfers and 'Stormforce' members you can find out beach and water safety information here

The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea
The Royal National LIfeboat Institution, a charity registered in England & Wales (209603) and Scotland (SCO37736), the Republic of Ireland (20003326), the Bailliwick of Jersey (14), the Isle of Man (1308 and 006329F), the Bailliwick of Guernsey and Alderney, of West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1HZ

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