Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats

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Since its inception, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has provided lifeboats to lifeboat stations in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Once past their operation life, the boats have mostly been sold by the RNLI and purchased for domestic use, marine businesses for usage such as further sea lifesaving functions, diving, fishing and pleasure trips or to maritime lifesaving institutions from other countries to continue a lifesaving role. Some lifeboats of particular historic note have been preserved in museums.

History[edit]

Girvan harbour and lifeboat
An 1863 tubular lifeboat from New Brighton, Merseyside

The Royal Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck (RNIPLS) was founded in March 1824.[1] The RNIPLS provided lifeboats to local committees, the Coastguard and harbour authorities. The Duke of Northumberland financed a competition for a standard design of a lifeboat. The winner was William Plenty, of Newbury, Berkshire. These "pulling boats" (rowing) were between 18 and 26 feet in length and were powered by between 4 and 10 oars. They had cork in their hull and shaped air-cases fore and aft.[2] Their double-ended designs could operate a rudder from either end, so there was no need to turn.

The RNIPLS suffered from lack of funds and poor organization. Following the loss of the RNIPLS lifeboat Providence and 20 of her crew of 24 in the mouth of the river Tyne in December 1849, the need for reorganisation was recognised. Algernon Percy, 4th Duke of Northumberland, then First Lord of the Admiralty, took control. Richard Lewis was appointed secretary. The RNIPLS was replaced by the RNLI. Plenty's design was retired and a new design was introduced. These were larger, self-righting boats. They had a narrow beam, were 34 or 35 feet long with higher end-boxes containing the air-cases and were tested to self-right when capsized.

Later lifeboats were increased in length and were optionally powered by sail. Motors were introduced in the early 1900s. They had a greater range, facilitating the merging of lifeboat stations. Innovation in the design of lifeboats is continuous.

In 1962 the need for inshore lifeboats (ILB) was recognised. A French design was adopted, this was an inflatable of 16 foot length and a 40 hp engine with a speed of 20 knots and introduced as the D Class. It was faster than conventional lifeboats, at that time, could traverse shallow waters, go alongside persons in the water without harming them, and the running costs were much less than conventional lifeboats. In 1972 a rigid inflatable boat (RIB) was developed at Atlantic College in South Wales and introduced as the B Class Atlantic 21.

Current lifeboats[edit]

The RNLI operated 431 lifeboats in 2022.[3]

Class In service
Mersey 11
Severn 41
Shannon 40
Tamar 27
Trent 33
A-class IRB 3
B-class ILB 122
D-class ILB 143
E-class ILB 4
H-class hovercaft 7

A number of other craft are also in operation including personal watercraft, boarding boats and Y-class tenders.

List of lifeboat classes[edit]

Pulling and sailing lifeboats[edit]

Early lifeboats were powered by oars and most, except a few very early ones had sails.

Designed by Henry Greathead, the vessel was 30 feet long and designed to be rowed by a crew of 12. It was double-ended and featured ample amounts of cork lining. However, it also had a heavy keel for stability, as well as a long steering oar, and could be rowed in either direction. Greathead's lifeboat eventually came to be used in 10 different countries, and at least one British boat remained in service for 40 years.[4]
A non-self righting type of lifeboat of various dimensions and various numbers of oars used by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in the early part of the 20th century. Typically they were launched from carriages into the sea.
Norfolk and Suffold class boats were able to operate further from shore and around the sandbanks common off East Anglia. James Steven No.14 Lifeboat is a surviving example.
Alfred Corry built Gt Yarmouth 1893. 44 ft Two-masted with oars, non-self righting.[5][6] The James Stephen No.14 was fitted with a engine[7]
Based on Greathead's design[8]

Early powered lifeboats[edit]

Used by the RNLI from the 1930s up to the 1980s. Two types appeared: single screw boat and twin screw boat introduced in 1945 as a more powerful version of the single screwed lifeboats.[9]

Fast and all-weather lifeboats[edit]

Severn-class RNLI Spirit of Guernsey at St Peter Port

The advent of lifeboats with a new hull shape in the 1960s allowed them to exceed 10 kn (19 km/h). They eventually became designated as 'all-weather lifeboats' to differentiate them from the inshore lifeboats that were unable to operate in some storm conditions.

A Rigid Inflatable Boat prototype fast lifeboat. The third built was powered by twin 285hp Caterpillar engines enabling 28 kn (52 km/h) using hydro jet drives that delivered a tonne of water per second to the nozzles at the rear of the boat.

Dimensions of current lifeboats:

Class Op. No. prefix Constructed Total built Length Displacement Speed Range Crew Survivor capacity Launch method Notes
Mersey 12 1988–1993 38 11.6m 14 tonnes 17 knots 140 nmi 6 43 Carriage, afloat or slipway Gradually being replaced by Shannon class.[10]
Severn 17 1996–2004 46 17.3m 42 tonnes 25 knots 250 nmi 7 124 Afloat Gradually undergoing life extension.[11][12]
Shannon 13 2013– 13.6m 18 tonnes 25 knots 250 nmi 6 79 Carriage, afloat or slipway About 50 planned.[13]
Tamar 16 2005–2013 16.3m 32 tonnes 25 knots 250 nmi 7 118 Slipway or afloat [14]
Trent 14 Afloat 38 14.3m 28 tonnes 25 knots 250 nmi 6 73 1994–2003 [15]

Inshore lifeboats[edit]

Lifeboats designed for fast response to incidents close to shore.

Dimensions of current lifeboats:

Class Introduced Total built Length Displacement Speed Endurance Crew Survivor capacity Launch method Notes
B-class Atlantic 85 2005– 8.4m 1.8 tonnes 35 knots 3 hours 3-4 20 Carriage, davit or floating boathouse [17]
D-class IB1 2003– 5.0m 400 kg 25 knots 3 hours 2-3 5 Trolley or davit Varieties of D Class introduced from 1963.[18]
E-class Mark 2 2012– 10.5m 5.9 tonnes 40 knots 3 hours 4 20 Afloat Used exclusively on the River Thames.[19]
E-class Mark 3 2019– 11.05m 7.78 tonnes 45 knots 3 hours 4 20 Afloat

Other rescue craft[edit]

Example dimensions:

Class Introduced Total built Length Displacement Speed Range/
Endurance 		Crew Survivor Capacity Launch Type Notes
H hovercraft 2002–2009 7 8.0m 3.86 tonnes 30 knots 3 hours 2-4 6 From transporter or slipway [20]
Arancia 2009– 3.9m 165 kg 26 knots 20 nmi 2 5-6 Trailer or trolley Additional 25 on lifeguarded beaches since 2001.[21]

Historic Lifeboat Owners Association[edit]

The Historic Lifeboat Owners Association has been set up for individuals who own, maintain, crew or have a general interest in historic lifeboats. The association is a community whereby people can share knowledge, experience, information and advise on the subject, organizes social events and historic lifeboat rallies.

At the beginning of each summer an ex-lifeboat rally is held at Fowey in Cornwall whereby owners bring their boats and display them to the public; this event is organized by Fowey RNLI and is an opportunity to raise funds for the RNLI. Rallies have also been held in Falmouth, Belfast, Glasgow, Poole and Yarmouth, Isle of Wight.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Harvey, William (1825). Preservation of Life from Shipwreck. London. p. 54. Retrieved 15 July 2009.
  2. ^ "Report of the committee appointed to examine the lifeboats submitted to compete for the premium offered by his Grace the Duke of Northumberland". River & Rowing Museum. Retrieved 15 July 2009.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ RNLI Annual Report and Accounts 2022 (Report). RNLI. 2023. p. 9.
  4. ^ [1] Archived 21 November 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ djcragie. "Alfred Corry Lifeboat". Freespace.virgin.net. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  6. ^ [2] Archived 6 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ "Home Page — Frinton & Walton Heritage Trust". Fwheritage.co.uk. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  8. ^ [3] Archived 6 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ "Liverpool class lifeboats". Rnli-liverpool.tripod.com. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  10. ^ "Mersey Class Lifeboat — The RNLI's Lifeboat Fleet — RNLI". rnli.org. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  11. ^ "Severn Class Lifeboat — RNLI All-Weather Lifeboat Fleet". rnli.org. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  12. ^ "The magnificent Severn set to save lives for another 25 years | RNLI". rnli.org. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  13. ^ "Shannon Class Lifeboat — the Latest All Weather Lifeboat". rnli.org. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  14. ^ "Tamar Class Lifeboat — The RNLI's Lifeboat Fleet — RNLI". rnli.org. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  15. ^ "Trent Class Lifeboat — The RNLI's Lifeboat Fleet — RNLI". rnli.org. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  16. ^ "D Class Lifeboat" (PDF). RNLI. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 October 2010. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
  17. ^ "B Class Atlantic Lifeboat — One Of The Fastest RNLI Lifeboats". rnli.org. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  18. ^ "D Class Lifeboat — The Workhorse Of The RNLI for 50 Years". rnli.org. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  19. ^ "E Class Lifeboats — The RNLI Lifeboat Fleet". rnli.org. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  20. ^ "Rescue Hovercraft — The RNLI's Lifeboat Fleet — RNLI". rnli.org. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
  21. ^ "RNLI Lifeboat Fleet — Inshore Rescue Boats". rnli.org. Retrieved 6 July 2020.

External links[edit]

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