Barry Dock Lifeboat Station is located at the Pierhead Buildings, at Barry Dock Outer Harbour, near the town of Barry, in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales.
The station currently operates a Shannon-class All-weather lifeboat, named 13-51 Richard and Caroline Colton II (ON 1358), on station since 2024, and a small D-class (IB1) Inshore lifeboat, Frances Mary Corscadden (D-820), on station since 2018. Both boats are moored at a floating pontoon, which can accommodate the tidal range encountered on the Bristol Channel.[2][3]
History
Barry Dock lifeboat station opened in 1901, The first lifeboat to be placed at Barry Dock was the John Wesley (ON 456), a 43-foot Watson-class non-self-righting 'pulling and sailing' (P&S) lifeboat, one with oars and sails, which cost £1,710. A new boathouse and slipway were constructed at a cost of £2,300.[1]
Barry Dock, Launch of the Lifeboat c.1906
In 1922, the station received its first motor lifeboat, Prince David (ON 677), a single engine 40-foot Watson-class non-self-righting lifeboat, which would still retain sails in case of engine failure. The boathouse was modified to accommodate the new boat prior to its arrival in 1920, at a cost of £1,400.[1][2]
Barry Dock lifeboat Prince David, under the command of Acting Coxswain Archibald Claude Jones, Barry Dock Honorary Secretary, in the absence of the regular coxswain, was launched to the aid of the French schoonerGoeland on 17 September 1935. The vessel was on passage from Roscoff to Swansea when she lost her sails in a strong gale, and was drifting off Rhoose Point. In dangerous conditions, the lifeboat rescued all six crew only shortly before the boat was wrecked on the rocks.[4]
Jones was awarded the RNLI Silver Medal, with the rest of the crew being awarded bronze medals.[5]
In a NW gale on 6 December 1940, the Rachel and Mary Evans (ON 806) was launched to the aid of the steamshipLondon, travelling to Cardiff from Penzance, and now dragging her anchor near Breaksea Lightship. The lifeboat returned to Barry to arrange a tug, and then attended the vessel for a second time, to get a line aboard. However, conditions were too rough for the tug to assist, and 10 men were rescued off the vessel. Coxswain David Lewis was awarded the
RNLI Bronze Medal.[5]
RNLB Susan Ashley at Chatham
In 1973, a second lifeboat was placed at Barry Dock, the Susan Ashley (ON 856), a 41-foot Watson-class lifeboat, which would serve alongside the Arun-class lifeboat 52-01 Arun (ON 1018) until 1979, when the boat was withdrawn, and the second station closed. The Susan Ashley now resides in the RNLI Heritage Collection at Chatham Historic Dockyard.[1][2]
In 2002, at a meeting of the RNLI, it was decided that the decision to replace the current Arun-class with a Trent-class lifeboat would be rescinded, and that Barry Dock would receive a new FSB2 (Fast Slipway Boat), (subsequently named Tamar-class). In 2006, Barry Dock received a Trent-class lifeboat, 14-29 Inner Wheel II (ON 1245), which would remain on station for the next 18 years.[1][6]
Ferrari 250 GT SWB 1995GT
In 2015, the RNLI received the most valuable items ever left to the Institution in a single legacy. In a most extraordinary bequest, the RNLI received two rare Ferrari cars from the estate of the late Richard Colton, businessman. Both were sent to auction:[7]
This donation has already helped fund the Shannon-class lifeboat now based at Hastings, and £2.8million was allocated to the construction of a new boathouse at Pwllheli. A second Shannon-class lifeboat was allocated to Barry Dock.[8]
Construction works began in 2022, of a new building at the pierhead, to provide a purpose built station with modern crew facilities for the RNLI, along with living quarters and welfare area for the Associated British Ports Pilot’s, who are sharing the building. The station became operational on 12 September 2023, a long overdue replacement for the old wooden ex-show bungalow, donated to the RNLI for use as a crew room by Associated British Ports in 1991.[1]
On 9 June 2024, Shannon-class All-weather lifeboat 13-51 Richard and Caroline Colton II (ON 1358) commenced service at Barry Dock, relieving the Trent-class lifeboat Inner Wheel.[9]
Station honours
The following are awards made at Barry Dock:[1][5]
Awarded an MBE in Her Majesty The Queen’s Birthday Honours. [10]
Station fatalities
On 13 January 1965, Coxswain Swarts died while working on the Watson-class lifeboat Rachel and Mary Evans, after he fell to the concrete floor of the boathouse.[1]
