Brede-class lifeboat

Last updated

Brede class lifeboat.jpg
Class overview
BuildersLochin Marine International Ltd., Rye, East Sussex
Operators
Preceded by Rother
Succeeded by Arun
Built1981–1985
In service1982–
Completed10
Active3
Retired7
General characteristics
TypeMotor lifeboat
Displacement8.5 long tons (8.6 t)
Length33 ft (10 m)
Beam12 ft (3.7 m)
Draught4 ft 3 in (1.30 m)
Speed18.6 knots (21.4 mph)
Range140 nautical miles (260 km)
Capacity8 plus 1 stretcher
Crew4

The Brede-class lifeboat was operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) from its stations around the coasts of the United Kingdom between 1982 and 2002, at which time it was the fastest all-weather lifeboat in its fleet. Eleven were put into service and when replaced by larger boats, seven were sold for further use as lifeboats, mainly in South Africa.

Contents

The class took its name from the River Brede which joins the River Rother to flow into the English Channel at Rye, Sussex.

History

During the 1960s and 1970s the RNLI had placed a number of fast lifeboats into service. These had mostly been 44 ft (13 m) Waveney-class lifeboats but there was a need for smaller, more manoeuvrable boats that were larger than the Atlantic 21 inshore lifeboats. A large boat was built using the construction methods of the Atlantic 21 but this Medina-class lifeboat was never adopted. [1] A prototype Brede was constructed in 1981 and the following year the first two production Brede-class were built. [2] These had a larger wheelhouse than the prototype and placed in service at Fowey and Oban lifeboat stations in October. [3] Ten more production boats followed but production ceased in 1985. The first Brede to be withdrawn was RNLB Ann Richie (ON 1080) which only saw five years service. By the end of 1994 the fleet had been reduced to just five boats; three in the relief fleet and those stationed at Poole and Calshot. [2] The boats had been too small to operate in extreme weather and surveys highlighted potential problems with structural strength. [1]

Most of the fleet found new use with other rescue services. One was transported to New Zealand in 1993. Six were bought between 1994 and 2002 by the National Sea Rescue Institute in South Africa, [2] with a seventh boat purchased privately in 2012 to replace Sanlam Rescuer (RNLI ON 1102) which was destroyed by fire awaiting refit. In September 2016, the NSRI announced that they were embarking on a project to replace their ageing Brede lifeboat fleet, starting with Eikos Rescuer II (RNLI ON 1104) based in Durban, with further replacements planned for every two years. The Brede lifeboats will be sold out of the fleet as they are replaced. [4] As of Nov 2023, 3 are still in service.

Description

The Brede was built with a glass reinforced plastic (GRP) hull, a strengthened version of a commercial design by Lochin Marine of Rye, Sussex. It was fitted with twin 203 hp diesel engines which gave it a top speed of 20 knots (37 km/h) which was faster than any other all-weather lifeboat in the fleet until the introduction of the Severn and Trent classes in 1991. It had an operating range of 140 nautical miles (260 km). [5]

The hull was divided into five watertight compartments and spaces were filled with buoyant materials which combined with a watertight GRP wheelhouse to give it a self-righting capability. A survivors' cabin was sited forward of the wheelhouse with eight seats and a stretcher could be carried in the wheelhouse which had seats for the four crew members. [5]

RNLI fleet

All built by Lochin Marine, Rye

ON [lower-alpha 1] Op. No. [lower-alpha 2] NameBuiltIn serviceStationComments [6]
106633-01–1981––Trials boat 1981–1982. Sold 1983. Renamed John Alexander. Used as a workboat at Yarmouth.
July 2019, Workboat, Southampton East Docks
108033-02Ann Richie19821982–1987 Oban Broken up 1988.
108333-03Leonore Chilcott19821982–1987 Fowey Sold 1990 for use as a diving support boat at Littlehampton. In 2000 she took up duty as a pilot boat at Braye. [3] Alderney. MMSI 235104864
108433-04Philip Vaux19821983–1989 Girvan Sold 1990. Renamed Mourne Mist.
December 2022, Pilot boat at Greencastle, Carlingford Lough. MMSI 235084945
108733-05Merchant Navy19831983–1987Relief fleetSold 1990; in use as a pleasure boat Lyonesse on the River Hamble. [2]
Sold to South Africa in 2012 for further use as a lifeboat. [7]
1987–1989 Oban
108833-06Caroline Finch19831983–1994 Exmouth Sold 1994 to South Africa. [8]
108933-07Inner Wheel19831983–2001 Poole Sold 2002 to South Africa.
2001–2002 Calshot
109033-08Foresters Future19841984–1986 Alderney Sold 2002 to South Africa.
1986–2002Relief fleet
110133-09Enid of Yorkshire19841984–1997Relief fleetSold 1997 to South Africa.
110233-10Nottinghamshire19841984–1988 Invergordon Sold 1997 to South Africa.
1989–1997 Oban
110433-11Safeway19851985–2001 Calshot Sold 2002 to South Africa.
110533-12Amateur Swimming Associations19851985–1989Relief fleetSold September 1993 to New Zealand.
1989–1993 Girvan
  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.

Other fleets

New Zealand

Operated by New Zealand Coast Rescue, Nelson

RNLI ONName [2] In ServiceStationComments [6]
1105Sealord Rescue1993–2011 Port Nelson Sold 2012. Renamed Girvan, Private ownership, Queen Charlotte Sound, Picton, NZ, restored to RNLI livery.

South Africa

Former RNLI Brede-Class lifeboats operated by the National Sea Rescue Institute in South Africa. As from 2019, the NSRI has embarked on a project to replace the ageing Brede fleet with a new class of lifeboat.

RNLI ONName [2] In Service with NSRIStation MMSI [9] Comments [6]
1087Rescue 15 [7] [10] 2012–2021 Mossel Bay (Rescue 15)Acquired 2012 from UK to replace Sanlam Rescuer. Refit completed 6 November 2012 [11]
Decommissioned May 2021. Sold to Bridge Maritime Ltd, SA.
1088South Star
1994–2021 Hermanus (Rescue 17)Refit 2011. [12]
Sold 2022 to Bridge Maritime Ltd, SA
1089Nadine Gordimer
2002– Hout Bay (Rescue 8)601029700Refit March 2012, [13] completed 20 February 2013. [14]
1090Spirit of Safmarine III
2002–2021
2021–		 Simon's Town (Rescue 10)
Mossel Bay (Rescue 15)		601029500Refit 2014 at Treetops Marine. [15]
Moved to Station 15 Mossel Bay in May 2021.
1101Spirit of Toft
1997–2024 Port Elizabeth (Rescue 6)6011051002017, Refit in Cape Town. Retired February 2024
1102Sanlam Rescuer
1997–2010 Gordons Bay (Rescue 9)Destroyed by fire whilst awaiting refit, December 2010.
1104Eikos Rescuer II
2002–2019 Durban (Rescue 5)601664000Sold and renamed Bosss Charger, with Bosss Marine, Durban, SA

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References

  1. 1 2 Kipling, Ray; Kipling, Susannah (2006). Never Turn Back. Stroud: Sutton Publishing. ISBN   0-7509-4307-6.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Denton, Tony (2009). Handbook 2009. Shrewsbury: Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 28–31.
  3. 1 2 Leach, Nicholas (2002). Fowey Lifeboats: An Illustrated History. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. pp. 63–69. ISBN   0-7524-2378-9.
  4. ↑ "New Search and Rescue Vessel for Durban". 19 September 2016.
  5. 1 2 Wake-Walker, Edward; Deane, Heather; Purches, Georgette (1989). Lifeboat! Royal National Lifeboat Institution. Shepperton: Ian Allan. p. 41. ISBN   0-7110-1835-9.
  6. 1 2 3 Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2023). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2023. Lifeboats Enthusiasts Society.
  7. 1 2 "Ex RNLI Deep Sea Rescue boat arrives". National Sea Rescue Institute. 2 February 2012. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  8. ↑ Salsbury, Alan (2010). A History of the Exmouth Lifeboats. Wellington, Somerset: Halsgrove. pp. 107–120. ISBN   978-0-85704-073-2.
  9. ↑ "Marine Traffic".
  10. ↑ "Rescue 15 ready for trip to Mossel Bay". National Sea Rescue Institute. 27 November 2012. Retrieved 3 December 2012.
  11. ↑ "Brede's at Treetops". 26 October 2012.
  12. ↑ "South Star Rededication". NRSI. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
  13. ↑ "Hout Bay rescue boat off for refit". 28 March 2012.
  14. ↑ "Hout Bay rescue boat refit complete". 20 February 2013.
  15. ↑ "Spirit of Safmarine III is home". NSRI. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
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