An E class lifeboat was placed on service at 12:00 on 2 January when the new search and rescue arrangements for the tidal reaches of the River Thames came into operation.

The station is staffed continuously to provide an immediate response and is coordinated by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency from a Port of London Authority operations room at the Thames Barrier.

A special framed certificate, signed by Surgeon Rear Admiral F Golden and the Chief Executive, was presented to Helmsman Mike Sinacola, Mechanic Michael Neild and Crew Member Will Lawrie for the first aid carried out on a seriously injured woman in front of a shocked crowd of onlookers during a service on 2 May 2004.

[1] The original lifeboat station was withdrawn from service on 13 January 2023 with the crew temporarily based at HMS President - the Royal Naval Reserve's training facility in London near Tower Bridge.

On Friday, 28 April 2023, the Tower RNLI temporary detachment at HMS President RNR stood down with operations transferring to the new station at Waterloo Bridge and on Friday, 23 June 2023, HRH The Duke of Kent officially opened the new Tower Lifeboat Station.