Trent-class lifeboat explained

The Trent-class lifeboat is an all-weather lifeboat operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) from 30 stations around the coasts of Great Britain and Ireland to provide coverage up to 50miles out to sea. Introduced to service in 1994, the class is named after the River Trent, the second longest river wholly in England.

History

In the 1980s the RNLI's and all-weather lifeboats provided coverage 30miles out to sea, operating at up to 18kn to cover the distance in two hours in good weather. However the RNLI felt that they needed the capability to extend their coverage to 50miles radius which would require lifeboats with a top speed of 25kn. This resulted in the 14m (46feet) Trent and 17m (56feet) lifeboats.[1]

The prototype for the Trent class was built in 1991. It was used for trials until 1994, when it was put into active service at Alderney Lifeboat Station. It remained on station there until their own boat was available in 1995, since when it has served in the relief fleet. Construction of its sister boats continued until 2004.[2]

Unlike the contemporary Severn class, the Trents will not receive a service life extension refurbishment and will gradually be withdrawn, to be replaced mainly by Shannon class boats.

Design

The Trent is intended to lie afloat at moorings. It has five water-tight bulkheads to create six compartments: fore peak; fore store; survivor cabin; tank space; machinery space; and aft peak steering compartment. Above these is the main deckhouse which has seats for the six crew and a doctor. This is another water-tight space which provides the boat's self-righting capability.[3]

Designed and built by Green Marine, each boat is constructed of over 100mm thick fibre reinforced composite topsides, single laminate double hull bottoms, 4 water-tight bulkheads and prepreg epoxy, glass and Kevlar shields.

The Trent has a service life of 25 years, although current estimates appear to exceed these original operational confines due to constant on-station maintenance, periodic refitting and sporadic repairs. In comparison with its predecessors, the boat has numerous additional advantages which aid in the overall success of every launch. One detail would be its condensed hull, which allows it to operate in significantly constrained locations (such as marina berths and dense quayside scenes).

Another aspect aiding in its confined manoeuvrability would be the bilge keels which aid in protecting its twin drive props. Its hull sheerline sweeps down into an area known as the 'welldeck', which helps ease the recovery of casualties onto the lifeboat. The remote location of an 'a-frame' hoist also provides additional assistance for particularly awkward recoveries (such as casualties in stretchers).

As of 2006, each Trent class lifeboat is complemented with an array of advanced technologies. Each device provides full assistance in search and rescue operations, and therefore must be of an officially high standard. The comprehensive electronics fit includes full radio equipment including Navtex Multi-Frequency, Marine Very High Frequency and DSC installations. For navigation the crew utilize an array of digital select systems including DGPS equipment, and an electronic Laserplot chart display and information system which allows complete automated management via the vessel's on-board processors (autohelm), although comparatively infrequent in practice.

Other features of Trent class lifeboats include VHF/DF, radar and weather sensors. Provisions for survivors include complete first aid equipment including the Basket and Neill Robertson stretchers, oxygen and Entonox breathing systems, ambulance pouch, thermodynamic food canisters and sick bags for ailing casualties. The Trents also have a small toilet arrangement. The afterdeck houses a salvage pump in a water-tight container for use in inter-vessel salvage, and two fire hoses allow proficient fire fighting. The Trent carries an inflatable XP-boat which is powered by a 5 hp outboard engine, and can be deployed in slight conditions to gain access to rocks or beaches when an inshore lifeboat is otherwise unavailable.

Fleet

ONOp. No.NameIn service Principal StationMMSIComments[4]
1180Earl and Countess Mountbatten of Burma
1994–1995
1995–2014
2014–2019
Trials

Relief fleet
Training fleet
211883350 Aurora. In Service with Sea-Watch.Org, Lampedusa, Italy.[5]
119714-02Esme Anderson1994–2023
2024–

232001840
119814-03Blue Peter VII1994–232001860
119914-04Roy Barker I1995–232001870
120014-05Anna Livia1995–232001880
120414-06Windsor Runner
(Civil Service No.42)
1995–2004
2004–2008
2008
2008–

Relief fleet

Relief fleet
232001950
120514-07Frederick Storey Cockburn1995–2023
2023–

Relief fleet
232001960
120614-08Douglas Aikman Smith1996–2021
2021–

Relief fleet
232001970
120714-09Sir Ronald Pechell Bt.1995–2008Damaged beyond repair March 2008[6]
120814-10Samarbeta1996–2024232002340
120914-11Barclaycard Crusader1996–2019
2019–2022

Relief fleet
232002350Sold 2022.
121014-12Forward Birmingham1996–2008
2008–2021
[7]
Relief fleet
232002360
121114-13George and Ivy Swanson1996–2021
2021–

Training fleet
232002180
121214-14George and Mary Webb1996–2023
2023–

Relief/Training fleet
232002370
121314-15Henry Heys Duckworth1996–2016
2016–2019
2019–2023
2023–2024
2024–
Relief fleet
[8]
Relief fleet

Relief fleet
232002380
121414-16Stanley Watson Barker1996–232002390
121514-17Elizabeth and Ronald1996–2021
2021–

Relief fleet
232002410
122214-18Maurice and Joyce Hardy1996–232002181
122314-19Ger Tigchelaar1997–232002182
122414-20Roy Barker II1997–232002183
122514-21MacQuarie1997–2004
2004–2023
2023–

Relief fleet
232002582Aug 2023, assigned to Donaghadee replacing Saxon.
122614-22Edward Duke of Windsor1997–Relief fleet232002583
122714-23Mora Edith MacDonald1997–2024232002584
122814-24Dora Foster McDougall1997–2006
2006
2006–2022
Relief fleet

Relief fleet
232002585
123314-25Austin Lidbury1998–232003131
123414-26Gough Ritchie II1998–232003132
123914-271999–232003137
124014-28Sam and Ada Moody1999–232003138
124514-29Inner Wheel II2000–2006
2006–2024
2024–
Relief fleet

Relief fleet
232004396
124614-30Dr John McSparran2000–232004397
125214-31Elizabeth of Glamis2001–232004404
125314-32Corinne Whiteley2001–2019
2019–
Relief fleet
232004405
125814-33Roy Barker III2002–235003642
125914-34Willie & May Gall2002–235005113
126614-35John Neville Taylor2002–2008
2008–
Relief fleet
[9]
235005114
126714-36Saxon2003–2023235007808
127414-37Betty Huntbatch2003–2004
2004–
Relief fleet
235010879
127514-38Jim Moffat2004–235010881

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Wake-Walker, Edward . The Lifeboats Story . 2008 . Sutton Publishing . Stroud . 978-0-7509-4858-6 . 59–72 .
  2. Book: Denton, Tony . Handbook 2009 . 2009 . Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society . Shrewsbury . 32–35 .
  3. Book: Leach, Nicholas . Fowey Lifeboats, an Illustrated History . 2002 . Tempus Publishing . Stroud . 0-7524-2378-9 . 108 .
  4. Book: Leonard . Richie . Denton . Tony . Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024 . 2024 . Lifeboats Enthusiasts Society . 4-132.
  5. Web site: Sea-Watch . Sea Watch.org.
  6. Web site: Lifeboat may be a write off . Motor Boat & Yachting . 25 March 2008.
  7. Book: Salsbury, Alan . A History of the Exmouth Lifeboats . 2010 . 129–140. 978-0-857040-73-2 .
  8. Web site: All-weather lifeboat goes operational for two year trial at Red Bay RNLI . 16 June 2016.
  9. Web site: New Lifeboat for Dunbar . Yachting and Boating World . 9 May 2008.