The Atlantic 21 Inshore lifeboat was the first generation rigid inflatable boat (RIB), in the B-class series of Inshore lifeboats, that were operated around the shores of the British Isles and the Channel Islands by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), between 1972 and 2008.[1]
The Inshore boat was designed at Atlantic College in South Wales, the birthplace of the RIB, after which the craft is named. The college was also one of nine locations where the RNLI first established lifeboat stations using smaller inshore watercraft. Atlantic College Lifeboat Station was operated by the RNLI between 1963 and 2013.[2]
The development of the Atlantic 21 resulted in the larger, with production beginning in 1993. The Atlantic 75 gradually replaced the Atlantic 21, with the majority of the ninety-six Atlantic 21 lifeboats retired from service by 2006. Just a handful remained on service into 2007 and 2008, with the last two Atlantic 21 lifeboats, at Enniskillen Lifeboat Station (Upper and Lower), both withdrawn from operational duties on 26 February 2008.[1] [3]
The Atlantic 21 can be launched from a davit, carriage or floating boathouse depending on the location of the station and the available facilities.
The lifeboat is a rigid inflatable boat (RIB), with the hull constructed of Fibre-reinforced plastic, subdivided into water-tight compartments, and manufactured at Halmatic Ltd. of Havant. The boats are then fitted out at the RNLI Inshore Lifeboat Centre in at East Cowes, Isle of Wight. A roll-bar is fitted above the engines, which carries an inflatable air-bag for self-righting, which can be inflated by a crew-member from a gas bottle should the boat capsize.[4]
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.[4]
| Op.No. | Name | In Service[5] | Station | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 1970 1970 1972 1972 1972–1973 1973 1973–1977 | Relief fleet | First Atlantic 21 (Prototype), trialled at various locations. Now on display at the RNLI Heritage Collection, Chatham Historic Dockyard | |||
| B-501 | 1973 1973–1977 | Relief fleet Relief fleet | |||
| B-502 | 1970–1972 | Trials | |||
| B-503 | 1972–1975 1975–1981 | Relief fleet | |||
| B-504 | Blue Peter I | 1972–1973 | |||
| B-505 | Major Osman Gabriel | 1972–1975 1975–1979 1979–1980 1980–1981 | Relief fleet | ||
| B-506 | 1972–1976 1976–1978 1978 1978–1981 | Relief fleet Relief fleet | |||
| B-507 | 1972. Built for KNRM. Named Griende. In service until 2005 | ||||
| B-508 | 1973–1980 | ||||
| B-509 | 1973–1981 1981–1985 | Relief fleet | |||
| B-510 | 1973. Built for KNRM. Named Tuimelaar. | ||||
| B-511 | Co-Operative No.1 | 1973 1975–1979 1981–1982 1982 1982–1985 1985–1989 1989–1997 | Relief fleet Relief fleet | ||
| B-512 | U.S.Navy League | 1973–1980 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-513 | William McCunn and Broom Church Youth Fellowship | 1973–1980 1980–1988 1988–1990 1990–1997 | Relief fleet Relief fleet | ||
| B-514 | 1974–1983 1983–1984 1984–1985 1986 1986–1991 1991–1992 1992–2000 | Relief fleet Relief fleet Relief fleet | Now with ICE-SAR | ||
| B-515 | Blue 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-516 | Whitstable Branch | 1974–1983 1983–1990 | Relief fleet | ||
| B-517 | Blue Peter I | 1973–1974 | |||
| B-518 | Sole Bay | 1973–1985 1985–1987 1987–1988 1988–1990 | Relief fleet Relief fleet | Now privately owned at St Helens, Isle of Wight | |
| B-519 | Surrey Forester | 1973–1986 1986–1990 | Relief fleet | ||
| B-520 | Wildenrath Whizzer | 1974–1986 1986–1990 1990–1993 1993–2005 | Relief fleet Publicity fleet | ||
| B-521 | Mary Livingstone | 1975–1981 1981–1984 1984 1984–1994 | Relief fleet Relief fleet | ||
| B-522 | 1974. Built for KNRM. Named Dolfijn. | ||||
| B-523 | Blue 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-524 | 1974. 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-527 | Percy Garon (Civil Service) | 1976–1986 1986–1996 1996 1996–1998 1998 | Relief fleet Relief fleet | Now with Finnish Lifeboat Society | |
| B-528 | 1975–1976 1976–1978 1978–1982 1982 1982–1998 1998 1998–2000 | Relief fleet Relief fleet Relief fleet Relief fleet | |||
| B-529 | Alexander Duckham | 1976–1987 1988–1990 1991–1993 1993–2000 | Relief fleet | ||
| B-530 | Himley Hall | 1975–1981 1981–1985 1985–1989 1989–1993 | Eastney Relief fleet Relief fleet | ||
| B-531 | Foresters | 1975–1988 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-532 | Guide Friendship III | 1976–1986 1986–1998 | Relief fleet | Now with Finnish Lifeboat Society | |
| B-533 | 1976–1988 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-534 | 1975. Reported to have been sold to MOD | ||||
| B-535 | R.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-536 | 1976–1989 1989–1992 1992–1994 1994–1997 1997 1997–1999 | Relief fleet Relief fleet Relief fleet | |||
| B-537 | 1976–1978 1978–1979 1979–1983 1983–1984 1984–1986 1986–1988 1988–1999 | Relief fleet Relief fleet Relief fleet Relief fleet | |||
| B-538 | Lord Brotherton | 1978–1989 1989–1990 1990 | Relief fleet | ||
| B-539 | Lions International District 105 SE | 1978–1989 1989–1990 1990–1991 1991–1994 1994 1994–1995 1995 1995–1998 | Relief fleet Relief fleet Relief fleet Relief fleet | ||
| B-540 | Wolverhampton | 1978–1990 1990–1996 1996 1996–2000 | Relief fleet Relief/Training fleet | Now with ICE-SAR | |
| B-541 | Elizabeth Bestwick | 1976–1988 1988–1991 1992–1993 1993–1994 1994–1995 1995–1996 1996–1997 | Relief fleet Relief fleet | ||
| B-542 | William Yeo | 1976–1987 1987–2003 | Relief fleet Inshore Lifeboat Centre | ||
| B-543 | Round Table | 1978–1990 1990–1996 1996–1997 1997–1998 1998–1999 1999–2001 | Relief fleet Relief fleet | ||
| B-544 | Catherine Plumbley | 1979–1994 1995 1995–1996 1996 1996–1998 | Relief fleet Relief fleet | Now with ICE-SAR | |
| B-545 | Amelia Gregory Armstrong | 1980–1995 1995–1998 | Relief fleet | ||
| B-546 | Independent Forester Benevolence | 1980–1997 1997–1998 | Relief fleet | Now in Portugal | |
| B-547 | Independent Forester Liberty | 1980–1998 | Now named Káraborg (BB 7482) with ICE-SAR | ||
| B-548 | Aldershot | 1980–1994 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-549 | Blenwatch | 1981–1996 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-551 | Constance Macnay | 1981–1997 1997–1998 1998–1999 | Relief fleet | Now with Finnish Lifeboat Society | |
| B-552 | 1981. Built for KNRM. Named Bruinvis, at Ter Heyde, In service until 2006 | ||||
| B-553 | Kirklees | 1982–1998 1998–1999 1999–2000 | Relief fleet | 2000–2013 named Dove with Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat 2013– with Lagan Search and Rescue | |
| B-554 | American Ambassador | 1982–2000 2000–2001 | Relief fleet | Now in Australia | |
| B-555 | Long Life I | 1982–1985 1985 1986 1986–1993 1993 1993–1995 1995 1995–1996 1996 | Relief fleet Relief fleet Relief fleet Relief fleet | ||
| B-556 | Spirit of America | 1982–1998 1998–1999 | Relief fleet | Now with Finnish Lifeboat Society | |
| B-557 | Weston Centenary | 1983–2001 | Now with Finnish Lifeboat Society | ||
| B-558 | Ramsgate Enterprise | 1984–2000 2000–2001 | Relief fleet | 2002–2007 named St. Brendan with Bantry Inshore Search & Rescue | |
| B-559 | Long Life 3 | 1984–1999 1999–2002 | Relief fleet | Now named Spirit of Tortola at British Virgin Islands | |
| B-560 | British Diver | 1983–2000 | |||
| B-561 | Marjorie Turner | 1984–2002 | Now with Finnish Lifeboat Society | ||
| B-562 | The Quiver | 1985–1998 1998–2001 | Relief fleet | Now with Finnish Lifeboat Society | |
| B-563 | Blue Peter II | 1985–2000 2000–2002 | Relief fleet | Now with Finnish Lifeboat Society | |
| B-564 | Blue Peter I | 1985–2001 2001–2003 | Relief fleet | ||
| B-565 | Manchester and District XXXII | 1986–1997 1997–1998 | Relief fleet | ||
| B-566 | Frank and Mary Atkinson | 1986–2002 | Now named Willemtje with KNRM | ||
| B-567 | Percy Garon II | 1986–2001 2001–2002 2002 2002–2004 | Relief fleet Relief fleet | Sold to Chile | |
| B-568 | Burton Brewer | 1986–2000 2000–2002 2002 2002–2005 2005–2007 2008–2010 | Relief fleet Relief fleet Training fleet | Now with Dorset Police (P-002) | |
| B-569 | Blue Peter V | 1986–1994 1994–1997 1997–1998 1998–2000 | Relief fleet Relief/Training fleet | ||
| B-570 | Himley Hall | 1987–2001 2001–2005 | Relief fleet | ||
| B-571 | British Diver II | 1987–2002 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-572 | Dorothy and Kathrine Barr | 1988–2001 | Now with Chilean Lifeboats | ||
| B-573 | The Lady Dart and Long Life II | 1988–2002 | Now with Chilean Lifeboats | ||
| B-574 | Joseph B. Press | 1988–2002 2002–2007 2007–2008 | Relief fleet Training fleet | ||
| B-575 | John Batstone | 1989–1992 1992–1997 1997–1998 1998–2000 2000–2002 2002–2005 | Relief fleet Relief fleet Relief fleet | ||
| B-576 | Ellis Sinclair | 1989–2002 2002–2006 | Relief fleet | ||
| B-577 | Graham Hillier and Tony Cater | 1989–1997 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-578 | The Rotary Club of Glasgow | 1989–2006 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-579 | Institute of London Underwriters | 1989–1997 1997–2001 2001–2002 2002–2003 | Relief fleet Relief fleet | ||
| B-580 | Leicester Challenge | 1990–2001 2001–2002 2002 2002–2009 | (Upper) Relief fleet | ||
| B-581 | Andrew Mason | 1990–2002 2002–2004 2004–2008 | Relief fleet (Upper) | ||
| B-582 | Borough of Solihull | 1990–2002 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-583 | Ken Derham | 1990–2006 2006–2009 | Training fleet | 2021 Purchased by Safetyboat Services Ltd for use as a safety / rescue boat | |
| B-584 | Youth of Ulster | 1991–2006 | |||
| B-585 | Peter and Grace Ewing | 1991–2006 | |||
| B-586 | Clothworker | 1991–1998 1998–1999 1999–2001 2001–2002 2002–2004 2004–2007 2007–2009 | Relief fleet Relief fleet Relief fleet Relief fleet | ||
| B-587 | Jessie Eliza | 1991–2000 | |||
| B-588 | Frank and Dorothy | 1991–2006 2006–2008 2008–2009 | Relief fleet Storage | ||
| B-589 | James Burgess | 1992–2006 2006–2009 | Training fleet | 2009 - Sold to Gardline | |
| B-590 | Wolverson X-Ray | 1992–1993 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-591 | Edmund and Joan White | 1992–2006 2006–2008 | (Lower) | Now with ICE-SAR in Eskifjordur | |
| B-592 | Ernest Armstrong | 1992–1998 1998–2001 2001–2003 2003–2006 | Relief fleet Relief fleet (Lower) | ||
| B-593 | Valerie Hull | 1993–2006 | 2010–2013 with Oban Sea Cadets 2013–present in private ownership | ||
| B-594 | Herbert and Edith | 1993–2006 | |||
| B-595 | Falmouth Round Table | 1994–2007 | Now with KNRM |