# Baltimore Lifeboat Station

Baltimore Lifeboat Station is located at Bull Point, near Baltimore, County Cork, on the south-west coast of Ireland.
A lifeboat station was established here by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in 1919.
The station currently operates a Tamar-class All-weather lifeboat, 16-22 Alan Massey (ON 1302), on station since 2012, and a B-class (Atlantic 85) Inshore lifeboat, Rita Daphne Smyth (B-910), on station since 2018.

## History

The station was established in 1919 and a masonry lifeboat house and slipway were constructed at Bull Point. This was used for all of the station's lifeboats until 2012, being adapted and upgraded over the years for newer lifeboats.
In August 1979, during the 1979 Fastnet race, the lifeboat rescued two yachts, Regardless and Marionette.
In October 1985, the lifeboat rescued the Irish Leader of the Opposition, Charles Haughey, when his yacht sank at the Mizen Head.
In August 2011, the Baltimore lifeboat 'Hilda Jarret' was involved in the rescue of the yacht Rambler 100 that capsized south of the Fastnet Rock when taking part in the Fastnet Race. 21 crew, including its skipper, George David, were recovered either from the upturned hull, or from the water.
With the arrival of the new Tamar-class All-weather lifeboat in 2012, the decision was taken not to rebuild the boathouse to take the larger boat. Instead a mooring pen was dredged alongside the boathouse, and the lifeboat is kept afloat. The boathouse has been reconfigured to provide enhanced crew facilities.

## Notable rescues

Baltimore lifeboat was called to the fishing vessel Japonica, 13 miles west of Fastnet Rock, at 5pm on the 30 October 1991. After battling storm Force 10 conditions for over 2 hours, the lifeboat arrived on scene, and after a tow was finally established, the boat was brought to the shelter of Bantry Bay just after 6am.
Putting into Castletownbere for repairs, the lifeboat was once again tasked to the 60ft Sailing boat Atlantic Adventurer south of Fastnet Rock. Setting out at 1.25pm, into Force 9 conditions, the lifeboat arrived on scene at 4pm, and after setting up a tow, arrived back to Baltimore at 6:50pm. Coxswain Kieran Cotter was awarded the RNLI Bronze Medal

## Station honours

The following are awards made to the crew of Baltimore Lifeboat Station
* RNLI Silver Medal
       The Venerable Archdeacon J R H Becher, Honorary Secretary at Baltimore - 1917
       Lieut. A L Sanderson RNR - 1917
       John Daly - 1917
       Tim Daly - 1917
       Michael Cadogan - 1917
       Tim Cadogan - 1917
       John Hart - 1918
* RNLI Bronze Medal
       Timothy Murphy - 1918
       Jeremiah McCarthy - 1918
       Kieran Cotter, Coxswain - 1992
* The Maud Smith Award 1991 (for the bravest act of lifesaving during the year by a member of a lifeboat crew)
       Kieran Cotter, Coxswain - 1992
* Framed Letters of Thanks signed by the Chairman of the Institution
       Vincent O’Driscoll, Assistant Mechanic
       Ronald Carthy, crew member - 1992
       Michael O’Regan, crew member - 1992
       Aidan Bushe, crew member - 1992
       Cairán Sweeney, crew member - 1992
* A special framed certificate in recognition of their services
       Coxswain and crew - 1979 (Fastnet Race)

## Baltimore lifeboats
### All-weather lifeboats

| ON | Op. No. | Name | In service | Class | Comments |
| 649 | – | Duke of Connaught 1920– Shamrock | 1919–1950 | 45ft Watson | |
| 854 | – | Sarah Tilson | 1950–1978 | 46ft 9in Watson | |
| 955 | – | The Robert | 1978–1984 | 47ft Watson | |
| 1015 | 48-12 | Charles Henry | 1984–1987 | 48ft 6in Oakley | |
| 949 | – | Ethel Mary | 1987–1988 | 52ft Barnett | |
| 1137 | 47-024 | Hilda Jarrett | 1988–2012 | Tyne | |
| 1302 | 16-22 | Alan Massey | 2012– | Tamar | MMSI 235069214 |

### Inshore lifeboats

| Op. No. | Name | In service | Class | Comments |
| B-708 | Bessie | 2008–2012 | B-class (Atlantic 75) | |
| B-753 | City of Bradford V | 2012–2013 | B-class (Atlantic 75) | |
| B-760 | Alice and Charles | 2013–2016 | B-class (Atlantic 75) | |
| B-780 | Patricia Jennings | 2016–2018 | B-class (Atlantic 75) | |
| B-910 | Rita Daphne Smyth | 2018– | B-class (Atlantic 85) | MMSI 232016610 |
* ↑ ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
* 1 2 Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.