Atlantic 21-class lifeboat explained

The Atlantic 21 is part of the B class of lifeboats that served the shores of the United Kingdom and Ireland as part of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) inshore fleet. The Atlantic 21 was the first generation rigid inflatable boat (RIB), originated at and by Atlantic College in South Wales, the birthplace of the RIB after which the craft is so named. The school was also one of nine locations where the RNLI first established lifeboat stations using smaller inshore watercraft. Atlantic College Lifeboat Station was commissioned by the RNLI in 1963 and decommissioned in 2013.

Nearly all of the Atlantic 21s have been retired from service by 2006, one of the notable exceptions to this being the boat allocated to Walmer in Kent. RNLB James Burgess (B-589) was retired to the relief fleet in December 2006. It was replaced by an Atlantic 85.

Description

The Atlantic 21 can be launched from a davit, trolley or floating boathouse depending on the location of the station and the available facilities.

The boat carries a variety of equipment which includes two VHF radios, first aid kit and oxygen, GPS navigation system, night vision equipment, self-righting system, anchor and various warps, toolkit, towing system, illuminating and distress pyrotechnics, spotlight, torches.

The rollbar assembly installed above the engines contains a self-righting bag which is operated by a member of the crew activating a gas bottle.

RNLI Fleet

Op.No.NameIn Service[1] StationComments
Trialled at various stationsFirst Atlantic 21 (Prototype)
On display at Royal National Lifeboat Collection, Chatham Historic Dockyard
B-5011970–1973
1973
1973–1977
Relief fleet

Relief fleet
B-5021970–1972Trials
B-5031972–1975
1975–1981

Relief fleet
B-504Blue Peter I1972–1973
B-505Major Osman Gabriel1972–1975
1975–1979
1979–1980
1980–1981

Relief fleet

B-5061972–1976
1976–1978
1978
1978–1981

Relief fleet

Relief fleet
B-5071972. Built for KNRM. Named Griende. In service until 2005
B-5081973–1980
B-5091973–1981
1981–1985

Relief fleet
B-5101973. Built for KNRM. Named Tuimelaar.
B-511Co-Operative No.11973–1975
1975–1979
1981–1982
1982
1982–1985
1985–1989
1989–1997




Relief fleet

Relief fleet
B-512U.S.Navy League1973–1980
1980–1990
1990–1992
1992–1994
1994–1995
1995–1997
1997–1998
1998
1998–1999
1999–2001
2001–2009

Relief fleet

Relief fleet

Relief fleet


Relief fleet

Publicity fleet
Damaged by vandals and scrapped
B-513William McCunn and Broom Church Youth Fellowship1973–1980
1980–1988
1988–1990
1990–1997

Relief fleet

Relief fleet
B-5141974–1983
1983–1984
1984–1985
1986
1986–1991
1991–1992
1992–2000

Relief fleet


Relief fleet

Relief fleet
Now with ICE-SAR
B-515Blue Peter II
V E Webber
1976–1985
1985–1992
1992–1993
1993–1994
1994–1996
1996
1996–2000

Relief fleet


Relief fleet

Relief fleet
Now with ICE-SAR
B-516Whitstable Branch1974–1983
1983–1990

Relief fleet
B-517Blue Peter I1973–1974
B-518Sole Bay1973–1985
1985–1987
1987–1988
1988–1990

Relief fleet

Relief fleet
Now privately owned at St Helens, Isle of Wight
B-519Surrey Forester1973–1986
1986–1990

Relief fleet
B-520Wildenrath Whizzer1974–1986
1986–1990
1990–1993
1993–2005


Relief fleet
Publicity fleet
B-521Mary Livingstone1975–1981
1981–1984
1984
1984–1994

Relief fleet

Relief fleet
B-5221974. Built for KNRM. Named Dolfijn.
B-523Blue Peter I
1974–1985
1985–1988
1988
1988–1995
1995–1998

Relief fleet

Relief fleet
Inshore Lifeboat Centre
Now named Bay Mermaid I with Cardiff Harbour Authority
B-5241974. Built for KNRM
B-525
Spix's Macaw
1974–1975
1975
1975–1979
1979–1980
1980–1988
1988–1991
1991–1993
1993
1993–1998
1998
1998–1999
1999
1999–2001
2001
2001–2002
2002–2004
Relief fleet

Relief fleet

Relief fleet

Relief fleet

Relief fleet

Relief fleet

Relief fleet

Relief fleet
Upper
B-526
In 2010 Re-Named LSV 001
1974–1978
1978–1987
1987–1995
1995
1997–1998
1998–2002
2002–2009
Relief fleet

Relief fleet


Relief fleet
Training fleet
LifeSaving Victoria, AU, VMR900 Mornington & Hastings, AU.
2010 - Transferred to Lifesaving Victoria (Melbourne, Australia)
2013 - Operated by VMR Mornington & Hastings - Volunteer Marine Rescue Inc - (Mornington, Australia)
B-527Percy Garon
(Civil Service)
1976–1986
1986–1996
1996
1996–1998
1998

Relief fleet

Relief fleet
Now with Finnish Lifeboat Society
B-5281975–1976
1976–1978
1978–1982
1982
1982–1998
1998
1998–2000
Relief fleet

Relief fleet

Relief fleet

Relief fleet
B-529Alexander Duckham1976–1987
1988–1990
1991–1993
1993–2000



Relief fleet
B-530Himley Hall1975–1981
1981–1985
1985–1989
1989–1993

Relief fleet

Relief fleet
B-531Foresters1975–1988
1988–1993
1993–1994
1994–1995
1995
1996
1996–1998
1998
1998–2001
2001
2001–2002

Relief fleet

Relief fleet


Relief fleet

Relief fleet

Relief fleet
2002–2011 with Poole Harbour Commission
2011–present with Aegir Nautical
B-532Guide Friendship III1976–1986
1986–1998

Relief fleet
Now with Finnish Lifeboat Society
B-5331976–1988
1988–1990
1990–1991
1991–1992
1992–1993
1993–1995
1995
1995–1996
1996
1996–1998

Relief fleet

Relief fleet

Relief fleet

Relief fleet

Relief fleet
B-5341975. Reported to have been sold to MOD
B-535R.A.O.B.
1975–1976
1976–1992
1992–1995
1995–1997


Relief fleet
1997–2010 with Ballybunion Sea & Cliff Rescue as Clara T.
2011–present in private ownership in Szczecin, Poland named Aga B used for pleasure, training and safety boat (also cooperating with local volunteer rescue services)
B-5361976–1989
1989–1992
1992–1994
1994–1997
1997
1997–1999

Relief fleet

Relief fleet

Relief fleet
B-5371976–1978
1978–1979
1979–1983
1983–1984
1984–1986
1986–1988
1988–1999
Relief fleet

Relief fleet

Relief fleet

Relief fleet
B-538Lord Brotherton1978–1989
1989–1990
1990

Relief fleet
B-539Lions International District 105 SE1978–1989
1989–1990
1990–1991
1991–1994
1994
1994–1995
1995
1995–1998

Relief fleet

Relief fleet

Relief fleet

Relief fleet
B-540Wolverhampton1978–1990
1990–1996
1996
1996–2000

Relief fleet

Relief/Training fleet
Now with ICE-SAR
B-541Elizabeth Bestwick
1976–1988
1988–1991
1992–1993
1993–1994
1994–1995
1995–1996
1996–1997
Relief fleet





Relief fleet
B-542William Yeo1976–1987
1987–2003
Relief fleet
Inshore Lifeboat Centre
B-543Round Table1978–1990
1990–1996
1996–1997
1997–1998
1998–1999
1999–2001

Relief fleet



Relief fleet
B-544Catherine Plumbley1979–1994
1995
1995–1996
1996
1996–1998


Relief fleet

Relief fleet
Now with ICE-SAR
B-545Amelia Gregory Armstrong1980–1995
1995–1998

Relief fleet
B-546Independent Forester Benevolence1980–1997
1997–1998

Relief fleet
Now in Portugal
B-547Independent Forester Liberty1980–1998Now named Káraborg (BB 7482) with ICE-SAR
B-548Aldershot1980–1994
1994–1995
1995–1996
1996
1996–1999


Relief fleet

Relief fleet
1998–??–20152015–20162016–...Finnish Lifeboat SocietyUnknownPrivate ownerMuhu Maritime Rescue SocietyNow with Muhu Maritime Rescue Society (Muhu, Saaremaa, Estonia)
B-549Blenwatch1981–1996
1996
1996–1997
1997–1998
1998–2001
2001–2003


Relief fleet

Relief fleet
(Lower)
Now with ICE-SAR
B-550"City of Portsmouth"1981–1996
1996–1998

Relief fleet
1998 - Sold to Finnish Lifeboat Society
Now with Estonian Maritime Rescue Organization (Tallinna Vabatahtlik Merepääste/Tallinn SAR)
B-551Constance Macnay1981–1997
1997–1998
1998–1999

Relief fleet
Now with Finnish Lifeboat Society
B-5521981. Built for KNRM. Named Bruinvis, at Ter Heyde, In service until 2006
B-553Kirklees1982–1998
1998–1999
1999–2000


Relief fleet
2000–2013 named Dove with Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat
2013– with Lagan Search and Rescue
B-554American Ambassador1982–2000
2000–2001

Relief fleet
Now in Australia
B-555Long Life I1982–1985
1985
1986
1986–1993
1993
1993–1995
1995
1995–1996
1996
Relief fleet


Relief fleet

Relief fleet

Relief fleet
B-556Spirit of America1982–1998
1998–1999

Relief fleet
Now with Finnish Lifeboat Society
B-557Weston Centenary1983–2001Now with Finnish Lifeboat Society
B-558Ramsgate Enterprise1984–2000
2000–2001

Relief fleet
2002–2007 named St. Brendan with Bantry Inshore Search & Rescue
B-559Long Life 31984–1999
1999–2002

Relief fleet
Now named Spirit of Tortola at British Virgin Islands
B-560British Diver1983–2000
B-561Marjorie Turner1984–2002Now with Finnish Lifeboat Society
B-562The Quiver1985–1998
1998–2001

Relief fleet
Now with Finnish Lifeboat Society
B-563Blue Peter II1985–2000
2000–2002

Relief fleet
Now with Finnish Lifeboat Society
B-564Blue Peter I1985–2001
2001–2003

Relief fleet
B-565Manchester and District XXXII1986–1997
1997–1998

Relief fleet
B-566Frank and Mary Atkinson1986–2002Now named Willemtje with KNRM
B-567Percy Garon II1986–2001
2001–2002
2002
2002–2004

Relief fleet

Relief fleet
Sold to Chile
B-568Burton Brewer1986–2000
2000–2002
2002
2002–2005
2005–2007
2008–2010

Relief fleet

Relief fleet
Training fleet
Now with Dorset Police (P-002)
B-569Blue Peter V
1986–1994
1994–1997
1997–1998
1998–2000

Relief fleet

Relief/Training fleet
B-570Himley Hall1987–2001
2001–2005

Relief fleet
B-571British Diver II1987–2002
2002–2006
2006–2021

Relief fleet
Training fleet
VMR Mornington, Australia, 2008 - 2016 - Operated by LifeSaving Victoria (Melbourne, Australia)
2016 - 2021 Operated by VMR Mornington - Volunteer Marine Rescue Inc (Mornington, Australia)
2021–Present - In private ownership (Mornington, Australia)
B-572Dorothy and Kathrine Barr1988–2001Now with Chilean Lifeboats
B-573The Lady Dart and Long Life II1988–2002Now with Chilean Lifeboats
B-574Joseph B. Press1988–2002
2002–2007
2007–2008

Relief fleet
Training fleet
B-575John Batstone1989–1992
1992–1997
1997–1998
1998–2000
2000–2002
2002–2005

Relief fleet

Relief fleet

Relief fleet
B-576Ellis Sinclair1989–2002
2002–2006

Relief fleet
B-577Graham Hillier and Tony Cater1989–1997
1997–1999

Relief fleet
1999–2004 named Sidmouth Herald with Sidmouth Independent Lifeboat
2005–present named Ira with Nisos Yacht Charter in the Ionian Islands, Greece
B-578The Rotary Club of Glasgow1989–2006
2006–2008
2008–2010

Training fleet
Hired to Dorset Police (P-001)
Sold to Dorset Police (P-001).
Now in private ownership in the Netherlands and named Anna Jacoba
B-579Institute of London Underwriters1989–1997
1997–2001
2001–2002
2002–2003

Relief fleet

Relief fleet
B-580Leicester Challenge1990–2001
2001–2002
2002
2002–2009


(Upper)
Relief fleet
B-581Andrew Mason1990–2002
2002–2004
2004–2008

Relief fleet
(Upper)
B-582Borough of Solihull1990–2002
2002–2007
2007–2008
2008–2009

Relief fleet
Training fleet
Hired Dorset Police (P-003)
2008–2011 with Dorset Police (P-003)
2011 - returned to RNLI
B-583Ken Derham1990–2006
2006–2009

Training fleet
2021 Purchased by Safetyboat Services Ltd for use as a safety / rescue boat
B-584Youth of Ulster1991–2006
B-585Peter and Grace Ewing1991–2006
B-586Clothworker1991–1998
1998–1999
1999–2001
2001–2002
2002–2004
2004–2007
2007–2009
Relief fleet

Relief fleet

Relief fleet

Relief fleet
B-587Jessie Eliza1991–2000
B-588Frank and Dorothy1991–2006
2006–2008
2008–2009

Relief fleet
Storage
B-589James Burgess1992–2006
2006–2009

Training fleet
2009 - Sold to Gardline
B-590Wolverson X-Ray1992–1993
1993–1994
1994–1996
1996
1996–1997
1997–2002
2002
2002–2006
2006–2007
2007–2009
Relief fleet

Relief fleet


Relief fleet

Relief fleet

Training fleet
Now named The Dove II with Sandown & Shanklin Independent Lifeboat
B-591Edmund and Joan White1992–2006
2006–2008

(Lower)
Now with ICE-SAR in Eskifjordur
B-592Ernest Armstrong1992–1998
1998–2001
2001–2003
2003–2006
Relief fleet

Relief fleet
B-593Valerie Hull1993–20062010–2013 with Oban Sea Cadets
2013–present in private ownership
B-594Herbert and Edith1993–2006
B-595Falmouth Round Table1994–2007Now with KNRM

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Leonard . Richie . Denton . Tony . Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2023 . 2023 . Lifeboats Enthusiasts Society.