built in 1854 to serve the fishermen, was converted into the Hastings Fishermen's Museum in 1956. Also, in the old town is the Grade II listed St Mary Star of the Sea Church. Lifeboats Hastings RNLI lifeboat station, based in the Old Town, was established in 1858. It currently operates a state-of-the art waterjet drive Shannon Class all weather lifeboat, as well as a D class inshore rescue boat. Both boats are beach launched from either side of the harbour arm. The all-weather lifeboat is launched from a 22m long Supercat 'Shannon Launch and Recovery System' (SLARS) - a hydraulically powered mobile slipway / turntable which is driven into the sea. Upon recovery, the boat is beached at speed and winched back up the beach and onto the slipway. The slipway is connected to and hauled by a caterpillar-tracked semi submersible tractor unit, marinised so that it can operate in up to 2.4 m of water. If needed the rig can be sealed by the operator and abandoned, surviving in up to 10m of water until it can be recovered. The D class inshore lifeboat is launched from a wheeled carriage towed or pushed by a tracked 'Bobcat' launch vehicle into the surf. The carriage can also be launched and recovered on a towline if beach conditions require it. Hastings Lifeboat Station also operate a CAT D4C Bulldozer for beach maintenance and to assist in the event of the breakdown or immobilisation of a primary launch vehicle. Buildings References External links Fishermen's Protection Society Fishermen's Museum Hastings Museums & Arts Nautical Heritage Association Royal National Lifeboat Institution Hastings Lifeboat Old Town