Tyne-class lifeboat

RNLI Tyne class lifeboat
Class overview
NameTyne-class lifeboat
Operators
Preceded byRother, Oakley, Solent
Succeeded byTrent, Tamar, Shannon
Cost£1.2 Million
Built1982–1990
In service1983–2019
Completed40
Active4
Retired36
General characteristics
Displacement26 long tons (26 t)
Length47 ft (14 m)
Beam14 ft 8 in (4.47 m)
Draught4 ft 2 in (1.27 m)
Propulsion
  • 2 × DDEC V6 diesels
  • 2 × GM V6 diesels or 2 × V8 diesels
Speed17.6 knots (20.3 mph; 32.6 km/h)
Range240 nmi (440 km)
Capacity
  • Self Righting 20
  • Non-Self Righting 100
Complement6 + doctor

The Tyne-class lifeboat was a class of lifeboat that served as a part of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution fleet until 2019. They were named after the River Tyne in North East England.

They were designed to be launched from slipways or operate in shallow waters where hitting the bottom is a concern. The class was introduced in 1982, and the last boat was built in 1990.

The Tyne class was superseded by the Tamar-class lifeboat, which is 7 knots faster than the Tyne class. However, only 27 Tamars were built, compared to 40 Tynes, leaving the remaining Tynes on station to be replaced with the latest Shannon-class boats.

History

The two prototype boats were built in 1982: 47-001 City of London (ON 1074) and 47-002 Sam and Joan Woods (ON 1075). Following completion of the test programme, City of London entered service at Selsey in November 1983 while Sam and Joan Woods was put into service in the relief fleet in 1984, by which time the first production boats were under construction.

Eventually forty boats were built. The last, Hermione Lady Colwyn (ON 1158), went into service at Shoreham Harbour in September 1990 and served at that station until 2010 when she was withdrawn and sold, the only Tyne not to record over twenty years' service. The RNLI had retired the first of the class in 2006 although eight of the earliest boats were sold to China for further duties in 2007 and 2008.[1] Selsey received a new Shannon-class boat in 2017 after almost 34 years' service by Tyne-class boats, the longest of any station.

The last Tyne class boat in RNLI service was at Wicklow and this was withdrawn on 4 April 2019.[2]

14 Tyne-class lifeboats continued in service with other rescue services around the world. As of Jan 2024, 11 are still listed in service, but as updates for 8 boats in China are not forthcoming (and only one boat in Ningbo showing as active), the number of Tyne-class lifeboats still in service is believed to be 4.

Design

The unusual design of this lifeboat derives from the requirement to deploy from slipway stations built for previous generations of lifeboats, with limited clearance. The Tyne also lies afloat at stations where the approaches, or operating areas, are particularly shallow. As the lifeboat's propellers are protected by heavy bilge keels, she is particularly well suited to operate where there is a danger of hitting the bottom, or tapping as it is known colloquially. The Tyne has a steel hull and aluminium superstructure. The first two were powered by General Motors 8V-71 diesels of 425 bhp, but the production boats switched to the newer GM 6V-92 of the same power. In the 1990s some boats were re-engined with Detroit Diesel 92 DDEC six-cylinder engines of 565 bhp. During the course of production the weight of the boats increased by over 1 ton; this required an increase in superstructure volume to preserve the self-righting capability, resulting in the height of the aft cabin being raised. Later, further doubts about the self-righting capability resulted in air bags being added to the aft cabin roof.

Fleet

ON[a] Op. No.[b] Name In service [3] Principal Station MMSI[4] Comments[3]
1074 47-001 City of London 1983-2006 Selsey (Slipway) 413770291 Sold to China 2007, now Hua Ying 388
1075 47-002 Sam and Joan Woods 1984–1993
1993–1996
1996–2006 		Relief Fleet
Walton and Frinton (Afloat)
Relief Fleet 		413770292 Sold to China 2007, now Hua Ying 389
1094 47-003 James Burrough 1984–2006
2006 		Padstow (Slipway)
Relief fleet 		Sold to China 2007, now Hua Ying 387
1095 47-004 St. Cybi II
(Civil Service No.40) 		1985–1997
1997–2006 		Holyhead (Slipway)
Relief fleet 		Sold to China 2007, now Hua Ying 386
1096 47-005 Ethel Anne Measures 1985–2006
2006–2007 		The Mumbles (Slipway)
Relief fleet 		Sold to China 2007, now Hua Ying 385
1097 47-006 Ruby and Arthur Reed 1985–1996
1996–1999
1999–2007
2007–2008 		Cromer (Slipway)
Relief fleet
Cromer (Slipway)
Relief fleet 		Sold to China 2008, now Hua Ying 382
1109 47-007 City of Edinburgh 1985–1997
1997–2002
2002–2008 		Fraserburgh (Slipway)
Fraserburgh (Afloat)
Relief fleet 		770576383 Sold 2010. Renamed ADES 19 Centenario BSE with ADES Uruguay at Puerto De Colonia
1110 47-008 Phil Mead 1986–2006
2006–2008 		Teesmouth (Slipway)
Relief fleet 		Sold to China 2008, now Hua Ying 384
1111 47-009 William Luckin 1986–2000
2000–2007 		Arranmore (Afloat)
Lough Swilly (Afloat) 		412100300 Sold to China 2008, now Hua Ying 383
1112 47-010 RFA Sir Galahad 1986–2006
2006–2008
2008–2009
2009 		Tenby (Slipway)
Relief fleet
Angle (Slipway)
Relief fleet 		912322377 Sold 2010.
Renamed Sir Galahad
October 2023, Pleasure boat , Shipped to Germany.
1114 47-011 The Lady Rank 1987–2008
2008–2011 		Angle (Slipway)
Relief fleet 		770576384 Sold 2011.
Renamed ADES 20 Bicentenary BSE with ADES Uruguay at Puerto del Buceo
1115 47-012 Good Shepherd 1988–2000
2000–2001
2001–2010 		Relief fleet
Lough Swilly (Afloat)
Relief fleet 		Sold 2010.
Renamed Carnarc.
September 2023, Pilot boat at North Longman Marina, Inverness.
1116 47-013 Robert and Violet 1988–2013
2013–2015
2015 		Moelfre (Slipway)
Lough Swilly (Afloat)
Relief fleet 		Sold 2015.
Renamed Puffin XII with Sri Lanka Lifeboat Institution at Colombo.
1117 47-014 James Bibby 1986–2008
2008–2010
2010
2010–2011 		Barrow (Slipway)
Relief fleet
Shoreham Harbour (Slipway)
Relief fleet 		Sold 2011.
Renamed Pioneer.
Aft Cabin removed, Workboat in Invergordon.
2023, Private ownership, Rothesay Dock, Clydebank[5]
1120 47-015 Hetty Rampton 1987–2012
2012–2015 		Porthdinllaen (Slipway)
Relief fleet 		232002731 Sold 2015.
Renamed Inch Burn.
December 2022, Pilot Boat with Montrose Port Authority.
1121 47-016 Norman Salvesen 1988–1997
1998–2009
2009–2014 		Wick (Slipway)
Sennen Cove (Slipway)
Relief fleet 		Kept afloat from 1994. Sold June 2014.
December 2023, at Conwy Marina
1122 47-017 Owen and Ann Aisher 1988–2012 Relief fleet Sold 2013.
Renamed MVS Prince George V104, Pilot Boat with Montrose Port Authority. Damaged 2016, subsequently stripped of spares.
May 2023, Sold to Mains Farm Wigwams of Stirling, to be used as a Glamping Pod.[6]
1126 47-018 Max Aitken III 1987–2009
2009–2014 		Bembridge (Slipway)
Relief fleet 		232003197 Sold June 2014.
Renamed Sir Max Aitken III.
2019, In Service with Jersey Lifeboat Association (Independent) at St Helier.
1127 47-019 Babs and Agnes Robertson 1988–2006
2006–2013 		Peterhead (Slipway)
The Mumbles (Slipway) 		Kept afloat from 1998. Sold 2014.
Renamed FVC-1.
May 2023, Unaltered pleasure boat at Riverside Marina, River Hamble
1130 47-022 The Baltic Exchange II 1988–2008
2008–2009 		Salcombe (Afloat)
Relief fleet 		Sold 2010.
Renamed PB Fortune.
January 2024, In Service with Seychelles Coast Guard at Mahe Plateau.[7]
1131 47-023 City of Sheffield 1988–1996
1996–1997
1997–2000
2000–2001
2001–2016 		Whitby (Afloat)
Relief fleet
Hartlepool (Afloat)
Relief fleet
Poole (Afloat) 		On display at the National Emergency Services Museum, Sheffield
1132 47-020 Spirit of Lowestoft 1987–2014
2014–2018 		Lowestoft (Afloat)
Relief fleet 		To RNLI Museum, Chatham Dockyard 19 June 2019
1133 47-021 The Famous Grouse 1987–2004
2004–2010
2010–2012 		Relief fleet
Kilmore Quay (Afloat)
Relief fleet 		316028835 Sold May 2013 to the Canadian Lifeboat Institution, Richmond, British Columbia and renamed Fraser Lifeboat 1A-04[8]
1137 47-024 Hilda Jarrett 1988–2012
2012–2015 		Baltimore (Slipway)
Relief fleet 		232002581 Sold 2015. Named North Esk, Pilot Boat with Montrose Port Authority.
March 2023, Renamed Ascension, Pilot Boat, Stornoway Port.[5]
1138 47-025 Lord Saltoun 1988–1999
1999–2012 		Longhope (Slipway)
Relief fleet 		Sold October 2012.
Renamed Norma-G
December 2021, Work boat with D. Ferran and Sons, Belfast Northern Ireland. On harbour wall at Carrickfergus.[9]
1139 47-026 Garside 1988–2013
2013–2016
2016–2018 		St Davids (Slipway)
St Davids No.2 (Afloat)
Relief fleet 		232015993 Retained on station alongside Tamar boat until completion of new boathouse in Oct 2016. Sold 2018.
Renamed Triton.
November 2023, Workboat and crew transfer, Falmouth Docks.
1140 47-027 George Gibson 1988–2010
2010–2011 		Appledore (Afloat)
Relief fleet 		232008820 Sold January 2013. Renamed The John Faulding (SGI-007).
December 2023, Construction safety boat for Specialist Group International at Portishead Marina.
1141 47-028 Sir John Fisher 1989–1992
1992–2017 		Relief fleet
Workington (Davit) 		Sold 2018.
Renamed Eala, May 2022, Private Ownership, Troon.
1142 47-029 Mariners Friend 1989–2007
2007–2012
2012–2013 		Relief Fleet
Lough Swilly (Afloat)
Relief fleet 		Sold June 2014. Renamed Suilbhir Giomach (Jolly Lobster).
December 2021, Dive/Workboat at Loch Scridain (summer) and Dunstaffnage Marina (winter).
1145 47-030 David Robinson 1988–2011
2011–2016 		The Lizard (Slipway)
Relief fleet 		Sold 2017. Renamed Diligence J.
October 2018, Crew transfer boat for Togo Oil and Marine, at Lomé, Togo, West Africa.[10]
1146 47-031 Voluntary Worker 1988–1990
1990–2005
2005–2017 		Lytham St Annes (Afloat)
Relief fleet
Selsey (Slipway) 		Sold 2017.
December 2023, In storage with Helical Technology, Lytham, Lancs. Lytham Motive Power (Private) Museum (no public access).
1147 47-032 Sir William Hillary 1988–2018 Douglas (Slipway) Sold.
Renamed Sir William
December 2023, Private Ownership at Portishead Marina.
1151 47-033 Mary Irene Millar 1989–2011
2011–2013 		Portpatrick (Afloat)
Relief fleet 		Sold December 2013.
May 2023, Pleasure boat at Mayflower Marina, Plymouth.
1152 47-034 Moonbeam 1989–2015
2015–2016 		Montrose (Afloat)
Relief fleet 		Sold November 2016.
December 2023, Private Ownership, Salcombe
1153 47-035 Annie Blaker 1989–2019 Wicklow (Slipway) 232003199 Last Tyne class boat on station[2]
Sold 2020.
February 2023, Operating with Guernsey Boat Charter at St Peter Port[5]
1154 47-036 Kenneth Thelwall II 1990–1994
1996–2011 		Ramsgate (Afloat)
Walton and Frinton (Afloat) 		Sold September 2011.
Renamed Ocean Lad.
December 2023, Crew/Pilot boat for Atlantic Towage, West End, Bere Island, Co. Cork, Ireland.[11]
1155 47-037 Sarah Emily Harrop 1990–1998
1998–2007
2007–2010
2010
2010 		Lytham St Annes (Afloat)
Relief fleet
Calshot (Afloat)
Relief fleet
Shoreham Harbour (Slipway) 		250002783 Sold October 2010.
Renamed Ocean Lass.
September 2023, Ferry/Pilot boat, Bere Island Ferries, Co, Cork Ireland.
1156 47-038 William Street 1989–2016 Fleetwood (Afloat) 232006029 Sold 2016.
Renamed Amelia
Jun 2023, NHS Ferry Charter operated by Seafaris Adventures (Skye) from Mallaig.
1157 47-039 Alexander Coutanche 1989–2009
2009–2010
2010–2012
2012–2013
2013–2014 		St Helier (Afloat)
Relief fleet
Calshot (Afloat)
Lough Swilly (Afloat)
Relief fleet
 232002580 Sold 2015. Renamed Euan D
December 2023, Pilot/Work boat with JD Marine operating from Swansea.
1158 47-040 Hermione Lady Colwyn 1990–2010 Shoreham Harbour (Slipway) Sold 2010.
Renamed Odin Nautical with Aegir Nautical, Lymington,
April 2019, Workboat at East Cowes, IOW
  1. ^ ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
  2. ^ Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.

China

RNLI ON Name In Service [3] Station MMSI[4] Comments[3]
1074 Hua Ying 388 2007– Xiamen 413770291 Last Seen 19 July 2020 Shanghai[4]
1075 Hua Ying 389 2007– Ningbo 413770292 Last Seen 2024 Ningbo[4]
1094 Hua Ying 386 2007– Yantai
1095 Hua Ying 387 2007– Rongcheng
1096 Hua Ying 384 2007– Beihai
1097 Hua Ying 385 2008– Shekou
1110 Hua Ying 382 2008– Shenzhen
1111 Hua Ying 383 2008– Guangzhou 412100300 Last Seen 17 July 2021 Haikou[4]

Uruguay

Operated by ADES Uruguay

RNLI ON Name In Service [3] Station MMSI[4] Comments[3]
1109 ADES 19 Centenario 2010–2023 Puerto de Colonia 770576383 Oct 2023, Retired from Service. For sale
1114 ADES 20 Bicentenary 2011–2023 Puerto del Buceo 770576384 Oct 2023, Retired from Service. For sale

Sri Lanka

Operated by the Sri Lankan Lifeboat Institution

RNLI ON Name In Service [3] Station MMSI[4] Comments[3]
1116 Puffin XII[12] 2015–2020 Colombo 232002745 Last seen MMSI, 18 February 2020.
Sold from service, with Master Divers (Pvt) Ltd, Sri Lanka

Jersey

Operated by the Jersey Lifeboat Association

RNLI ON Name In Service [3] Station MMSI[4] Comments[3]
1126 Sir Max Aitken III 2019–2021
2023– 		St Helier 232003197 Lifeboat damaged on call on 10 November 2021, grounding on rocks at Pierre au Poisson. Repairs were carried out during 2022, and the boat returned to SAR service on 30 May 2023.[13]

Seychelles

Operated by the Seychelles Coast Guard

RNLI ON Name In Service Station [3] Comments
1130 PB Fortune 2010– Mahe Plateau Still in service, January 2024

Canada

Operated by the Canadian Lifeboat Institution

RNLI ON Name In Service [3] Station MMSI[4] Comments
1133 Fraser Lifeboat 1A-04 2013– Richmond, British Columbia 316028835

References

  1. ^ Denton, Tony (2009). Handbook 2009. Shrewsbury: Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 28–33.
  2. ^ a b Farewell to the Tyne Ships Monthly July 2019 page 7
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2024). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024. Lifeboats Enthusiasts Society. pp. 4–132.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Marine Traffic".
  5. ^ a b c Lifeboats Past & Present (No. 18 Spring 2023 ed.). LBES. p. 21.
  6. ^ "Former RNLI lifeboat to become glamping pod after being saved from scrapheap". RNLI. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  7. ^ "New patrol boat to help counter maritime threats".
  8. ^ "Our Vessels". Canadian Lifeboat Institution. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  9. ^ "D Ferran & Sons".
  10. ^ "Togo Oil & Marine".
  11. ^ "Atlantic Towage".
  12. ^ "New Boat for Sri Lankan Lifeboat Institution". Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  13. ^ "Independent Investigation Report: Jersey Lifeboat Association Grounding" (PDF). Jersey Govt. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tyne class lifeboats.