Tyne-class lifeboat

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Lowestoft Lifeboat Launched to a Medical Emergency aboard Tanker Ocean Crown, 13th June 2009.JPG
Class overview
NameTyne-class lifeboat
Operators
Preceded by Rother, Oakley, Solent
Succeeded by Trent, Tamar, Shannon
Cost£1.2 Million
Built1982–1990
In service1983–2025
Completed40
Active4
Retired36
Preserved2
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.

Contents

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The Tyne-class was superseded by the Tamar-class, which is 7 knots faster than the Tyne class.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 lifeboats.

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(ON 1158), went into service at Shoreham Harbour in September 1990 and served at that station until 2010 when she was withdrawn and sold, the only Tyne not to record over twenty years' service.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. Selsey received a new Shannon-class lifeboat in 2017 after almost 34 years' service by Tyne-class boats, the longest of any station. [1]

The last Tyne class boat in RNLI service was at Wicklow and this was withdrawn on 4 April 2019.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 March 2025, 11 are still listed in service, but as updates for 8 boats in China are not forthcoming (and only one boat at Ningbo still showing any activity), the number of Tyne-class lifeboats still in service is believed to be 4. [1]

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] NameIn service [1] Principal Station MMSI [3] Comments [1]
107447-001City of London1983-2006 Selsey (Slipway)413770291Sold to China 2007, now Hua Ying 388
107547-002Sam and Joan Woods1984–1993
1993–1996
1996–2006		Relief Fleet
Walton and Frinton (Afloat)
Relief Fleet		413770292Sold to China 2007, now Hua Ying 389
109447-003James Burrough1984–2006
2006		 Padstow (Slipway)
Relief fleet		Sold to China 2007, now Hua Ying 387
109547-004 St. Cybi II
(Civil Service No.40) 		1985–1997
1997–2006		 Holyhead (Slipway)
Relief fleet		Sold to China 2007, now Hua Ying 386
109647-005Ethel Anne Measures1985–2006
2006–2007		 The Mumbles (Slipway)
Relief fleet		Sold to China 2007, now Hua Ying 385
109747-006 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
110947-007City of Edinburgh1985–1997
1997–2002
2002–2008		 Fraserburgh (Slipway)
Fraserburgh (Afloat)
Relief fleet		770576383Sold 2010. See ADES Uruguay below.
111047-008Phil Mead1986–2006
2006–2008		 Teesmouth (Slipway)
Relief fleet		Sold to China 2008, now Hua Ying 384
111147-009William Luckin1986–2000
2000–2007		 Arranmore (Afloat)
Lough Swilly (Afloat)		412100300Sold to China 2008, now Hua Ying 383
111247-010RFA Sir Galahad1986–2006
2006–2008
2008–2009
2009		 Tenby (Slipway)
Relief fleet
Angle (Slipway)
Relief fleet		912322377Sold 2010.
Renamed Sir Galahad.
Workboat at Tallinn, Estonia, September 2024.
111447-011The Lady Rank1987–2008
2008–2011		 Angle (Slipway)
Relief fleet		770576384Sold 2011. See ADES Uruguay below.
111547-012Good Shepherd1988–2000
2000–2001
2001–2010		Relief fleet
Lough Swilly (Afloat)
Relief fleet		Sold 2010.
Renamed Carnarc.
Pilot boat at North Longman Marina, Inverness, September 2023.
111647-013Robert and Violet1988–2013
2013–2015
2015		 Moelfre (Slipway)
Lough Swilly (Afloat)
Relief fleet		232002745Sold 2015. See Sri Lanka Lifeboat Institution below.
111747-014James Bibby1986–2008
2008–2010
2010
2010–2011		 Barrow (Slipway)
Relief fleet
Shoreham Harbour (Slipway)
Relief fleet		Sold 2011. Renamed Pioneer.
Aft Cabin removed, Workboat in Invergordon.
Private ownership, Rothesay Dock, Clydebank, June 2023. [4]
112047-015Hetty Rampton1987–2012
2012–2015		 Porthdinllaen (Slipway)
Relief fleet		232002731Sold 2015. Renamed Inch Burn.
Pilot Boat with Montrose Port Authority, November 2024.
112147-016Norman Salvesen1988–1997
1998–2009
2009–2014		 Wick (Slipway)
Sennen Cove (Slipway)
Relief fleet		Kept afloat from 1994.
Sold June 2014.
Unaltered, at Conwy Marina, September 2024
112247-017Owen and Ann Aisher1988–2012Relief fleetSold 2013. Renamed MVS Prince George V104.
Pilot Boat with Montrose Port Authority. Damaged 2016, subsequently stripped of spares.
Sold to Mains Farm Wigwams of Stirling, May 2023.
Used as a Glamping Pod, June 2024. [5]
112647-018Max Aitken III1987–2009
2009–2014		 Bembridge (Slipway)
Relief fleet		232003197Sold June 2014. Renamed Sir Max Aitken III. See Jersey Lifeboat Association (Independent) below.
112747-019Babs and Agnes Robertson1988–2006
2006–2013		 Peterhead (Slipway)
The Mumbles (Slipway)		Kept afloat from 1998.
Sold 2014. Renamed FVC-1.
Unaltered, at Riverside Marina, River Hamble, September 2024
113047-022The Baltic Exchange II1988–2008
2008–2009		 Salcombe (Afloat)
Relief fleet		Sold 2010. Renamed PB Fortune. See Seychelles Coast Guard below. [6]
113147-023City of Sheffield1988–1996
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
113247-020 Spirit of Lowestoft 1987–2014
2014–2018		 Lowestoft (Afloat)
Relief fleet		To RNLI Museum, Chatham Dockyard, 19 June 2019
113347-021The Famous Grouse1987–2004
2004–2010
2010–2012		Relief fleet
Kilmore Quay (Afloat)
Relief fleet		316028835Sold May 2013. Renamed Fraser Lifeboat 1A-04. See Canadian Lifeboat Institution below. [7]
113747-024Hilda Jarrett1988–2012
2012–2015		 Baltimore (Slipway)
Relief fleet		232002581Sold 2015. Renamed North Esk, Pilot Boat with Montrose Port Authority.
Sold March 2023, Renamed Ascension.
Pilot Boat, Stornoway Port, November 2024. [4]
113847-025Lord Saltoun1988–1999
1999–2012		 Longhope (Slipway)
Relief fleet		Sold October 2012.
Renamed Norma-G.
Work boat with D. Ferran and Sons, Belfast Northern Ireland. On harbour wall at Carrickfergus, December 2021. [8]
113947-026Garside1988–2013
2013–2016
2016–2018		 St Davids (Slipway)
St Davids No.2 (Afloat)
Relief fleet		232015993Retained on station alongside Tamar-class lifeboat until completion of new boathouse in Oct 2016.
Sold 2018. Renamed Triton.
Workboat and crew transfer, Falmouth Docks, October 2024.
114047-027George Gibson1988–2010
2010–2011		 Appledore (Afloat)
Relief fleet		232008820Sold January 2013. Renamed The John Faulding (SGI-007).
Construction safety boat for Specialist Group International at Portishead Marina, April 2024
114147-028Sir John Fisher1989–1992
1992–2017		Relief fleet
Workington (Davit)		Sold 2018.
Renamed Eala.
Private Ownership, Troon, May 2022.
114247-029Mariners Friend1989–2007
2007–2012
2012–2013		Relief Fleet
Lough Swilly (Afloat)
Relief fleet		Sold June 2014. Renamed Suilbhir Giomach (Jolly Lobster).
Dive/Workboat at Loch Scridain (summer) and Dunstaffnage Marina (winter), September 2024.
114547-030David Robinson1988–2011
2011–2016		 The Lizard (Slipway)
Relief fleet		Sold 2017. Renamed Diligence J.
Crew transfer boat for Togo Oil and Marine, at Lomé, Togo, West Africa, October 2018. [9]
114647-031Voluntary Worker1988–1990
1990–2005
2005–2017		 Lytham St Annes (Afloat)
Relief fleet
Selsey (Slipway)		Sold 2017.
Floating display with Helical Technology, Lytham, Lancs. Lytham Motive Power (Private) Museum (no public access), June 2024.
114747-032Sir William Hillary1988–2018 Douglas (Slipway)Sold 2020. Renamed Sir William.
Private Ownership at Portishead Marina, June 2024.
115147-033Mary Irene Millar1989–2011
2011–2013		 Portpatrick (Afloat)
Relief fleet		Sold December 2013.
Private ownership, at Mayflower Marina, Plymouth, May 2024.
115247-034Moonbeam1989–2015
2015–2016		 Montrose (Afloat)
Relief fleet		Sold November 2016.
Private Ownership at Salcombe, December 2023
115347-035Annie Blaker1989–2019 Wicklow (Slipway)232003199Last Tyne class boat on station [2]
Sold 2020.
Operating with Guernsey Boat Charter at St Peter Port, May 2024. [4]
115447-036Kenneth Thelwall II1990–1994
1996–2011		 Ramsgate (Afloat)
Walton and Frinton (Afloat)		Sold September 2011.
Renamed Ocean Lad.
Crew/Pilot boat for Atlantic Towage, West End, Bere Island, Co. Cork, Ireland, December 2023. [10]
115547-037Sarah Emily Harrop1990–1998
1998–2007
2007–2010
2010
2010		 Lytham St Annes (Afloat)
Relief fleet
Calshot (Afloat)
Relief fleet
Shoreham Harbour (Slipway)		250002783Sold October 2010. Renamed Ocean Lass.
Ferry/Pilot boat, Bere Island Ferries, Co, Cork Ireland, September 2023.
115647-038William Street1989–2016 Fleetwood (Afloat)232006029Sold 2016. Renamed Amelia.
Jun 2023, NHS Ferry Charter operated by Seafaris Adventures (Skye) from Mallaig.
Private Ownership, Skye, October 2024.
115747-039Alexander Coutanche1989–2009
2009–2010
2010–2012
2012–2013
2013–2014		 St Helier (Afloat)
Relief fleet
Calshot (Afloat)
Lough Swilly (Afloat)
Relief fleet
232002580Sold 2015. Renamed Euan D.
Pilot/Work boat with JD Marine operating from Swansea, November 2024.
115847-040Hermione Lady Colwyn1990–2010 Shoreham Harbour (Slipway)Sold 2010.
Renamed Odin Nautical, with Aegir Nautical, Lymington.
Workboat at East Cowes, IOW, possibly now sold to Germany, April 2019
  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 ONNameIn Service [1] Station MMSI [3] Comments [1]
1074Hua Ying 3882007– Xiamen 413770291Last Seen 19 July 2020 Shanghai [3]
1075Hua Ying 3892007– Ningbo 413770292Last Seen Jan 2025 Ningbo [3]
1094Hua Ying 3862007– Yantai
1095Hua Ying 3872007–Rongcheng
1096Hua Ying 3842007– Beihai
1097Hua Ying 3852008– Shekou
1110Hua Ying 3822008– Shenzhen
1111Hua Ying 3832008– Guangzhou 412100300Last Seen 17 July 2021 Haikou [3]

Uruguay

Operated by ADES Uruguay

RNLI ONNameIn Service [1] Station MMSI [3] Comments [1]
1109ADES 19 Centenario2010–2023 Puerto de Colonia 770576383Oct 2023, Retired from Service. Sold 2024.
Workboat with CG Traficos SRL in Nueva Palmira, Uruguay, December 2024
1114ADES 20 Bicentenary2011–2023 Puerto del Buceo 770576384Oct 2023, Retired from Service.
For sale, December 2024

Sri Lanka

Operated by the Sri Lankan Lifeboat Institution

RNLI ONNameIn Service [1] Station MMSI [3] Comments [1]
1116Puffin XII [11] 2015–2020 Colombo [6] Last seen in service, MMSI, 18 February 2020.
Reported sold from service, with Master Divers (Pvt) Ltd, Sri Lanka.

Jersey

Operated by the Jersey Lifeboat Association

RNLI ONNameIn Service [1] Station MMSI [3] Comments [1]
1126Sir Max Aitken III2019–2021
2023–		 St Helier 232003197Renamed Sir Max Aitken III. 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. [12]

Seychelles

Operated by the Seychelles Coast Guard

RNLI ONNameIn ServiceStation [1] Comments
1130PB Fortune2010–Mahe PlateauStill in service, January 2024

Canada

Operated by the Canadian Lifeboat Institution

RNLI ONNameIn Service [1] Station MMSI [3] Comments
1133Fraser Lifeboat 1A-042013–Steveston, Richmond, BC 316028835

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2025). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2025. Lifeboats Enthusiasts Society. pp. 62–67.
  2. 1 2 Farewell to the Tyne Ships Monthly July 2019 page 7
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Marine Traffic".
  4. 1 2 3 Lifeboats Past & Present (No. 18 Spring 2023 ed.). LBES. p. 21.
  5. ↑ "Former RNLI lifeboat to become glamping pod after being saved from scrapheap". RNLI. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
  6. 1 2 "New patrol boat to help counter maritime threats".
  7. ↑ "Our Vessels". Canadian Lifeboat Institution. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  8. ↑ "D Ferran & Sons".
  9. ↑ "Togo Oil & Marine".
  10. ↑ "Atlantic Towage".
  11. ↑ "New Boat for Sri Lankan Lifeboat Institution" . Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  12. ↑ "Independent Investigation Report: Jersey Lifeboat Association Grounding" (PDF). Jersey Govt. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
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