Croeso i Wefan Gorsaf Bad Achub Criccieth               Welcome to the Criccieth Lifeboat Station Website

Site last updated 24th May 2008

Our lifeboat station is located in the small seaside resort of Criccieth and covers the north eastern corner of Cardigan Bay. The station  has been in existence since 1853 and currently operates an Atlantic 85 lifeboat "DORIS JOAN" which was placed on service at the station on 6th November 2007.

2008 Service Calls - 8 calls have been answered so far in 2008

2007 Service Calls - 23 calls were answered in 2007

2006 Service Calls- 32 calls were answered in 2006

Latest Launches -

24 May 2008 1250 During the previous incident a local resident reported that his boat had broken down and had come ashore on the Marine Beach. The lifeboat went to sixteen foot speedboat "MYRTLE" and towed her and the owner back to the main beach at Criccieth.

24 May 2008 1215  The lifeboat was launched to assist a broken down nineteen foot power boat "SKI NAUTIQUE" which had broken down off Harlech. She located the boat off Llandanwg and as the owner had managed to re-start the engine the lifeboat escorted her back to Mochras lagoon from where she has set out.

13 May 2008  1819 The lifeboat was launched to assist a broken down twenty nine foot yacht "FLYING KEEL" which had broken down off Borth y Gest whilst on passage from Aberystwyth to Porthmadog. THe yacht with three crew members aboard was towed to the safety of Porthmadog Harbour.

Letter of Appreciation from RNLI Chief of Operations

Criccieth lifeboatmen Gordon Emery, Mark Hobley and Keith Allmark have received a letter of appreciation from the charity’s Operations Director Michael Vlasto, for rescuing a man who became stranded on a sandbank when the tide came in around him. 

They have been commended for their actions as crew members during the service on 25, September, 2007.  Holyhead Coastguard requested the launch of Criccieth lifeboat at 6.45pm following reports that a man was trapped by the incoming tide close to the Portmeirion Hotel.

The RNLI lifeboat “MERCURIUS” was promptly launched, and despite problems with the shallowness of the water in some parts of the estuary, quickly reached the man who had been swept under water several times and was totally immersed when the lifeboat reached him. Mark Hobley jumped into the chest deep water and assisted him onto the lifeboat.  He was cold and disorientated.   A rescue helicopter from RAF Valley was now on scene, and in view of the man’s condition, he was airlifted from the lifeboat into the helicopter and transferred to Ysbyty Gwynedd  at Bangor.  In his letter Mr Vlasto says:‘This was a noteworthy service.  I commend Gordon for his seamanship and use of his local knowledge to get the B class to the man’s position despite the navigational problems and the fact that he is not a fully qualified helmsman.  Mark did well to recover the man, and all three of the crew worked as a team to assist, assess and ensure that the man was quickly on his way to hospital by helicopter.  Well done indeed, all of you!’

Here is a link to a video of the rescue  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMtRQyjs2Nw   Naming Ceremony for new Atlantic 85 lifeboat 3rd May

In glorious sunshine and with hundreds of spectators present the lifeboat "DORIS JOAN" was officially named by Miss Alex Vlasto.

The DORIS JOAN lifeboat afloat after the Naming Ceremony

(The above photo was taken by Crew Member Andrew Green aboard the Pwllheli Lifeboat which was present offshore.)

Atlantic 85 in rough weather 3rd February 2008

Radar Mobile Training Unit visits Criccieth

The  RNLI's Radar MTU is at Criccieth from 12th until 17th January - seven crew members were trained on the weekend of 12th/13th January with another seven being trained each evening the following week. Here are some photographs showing the MTU and the crew training inside it.

New Atlantic 85 lifeboat "DORIS JOAN" placed on service Tuesday, 6th November, 2007

These photographs are of the station's new Atlantic 85 lifeboat "DORIS JOAN" on trials on 5/6th November. She was officially placed on service on the Tuesday afternoon after which the Atlantic 75 lifeboat "MERCURIUS" was launched for the last time and taken to Pwllheli MArina where she was lifted out of the water and placed on a road trailer for her journey back to the Inshore Lifeboat Centre at Cowes.

2007

Visitors since 1st March 2006   

If you require any further information email LOM@cricciethlifeboat.org.uk