Tyne-class lifeboat explained

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.

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The Tyne class was superseded by the Tamar-class lifeboat, which is 7 knots faster than the Tyne class.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

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Lady Colwyn (ON 1158), went into service at in September 1990 and served at that station until 2010 when she was withdrawn and sold, the only Tyne not to record over twenty years' service.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

The last Tyne class boat in RNLI service was at Wicklow and this was withdrawn on 4 April 2019.[2]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 Jan 2024, 11 are still listed in service, but as updates for 8 boats in China are not forthcoming (and only one boat in Ningbo showing as active), the number of Tyne-class lifeboats still in service is believed to be 4.

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

ONOp. No.NameIn service Principal StationMMSI[3] Comments[4]
107447-001City of London1983-2006Selsey (Slipway)413770291Sold to China 2007, now Hua Ying 388
107547-002Sam and Joan Woods1984–1993
1993–1996
1996–2006
Relief Fleet
(Afloat)
Relief Fleet
413770292Sold to China 2007, now Hua Ying 389
109447-003James Burrough1984–2006
2006
(Slipway)
Relief fleet
Sold to China 2007, now Hua Ying 387
109547-004St. Cybi II
(Civil Service No.40)
1985–1997
1997–2006
(Slipway)
Relief fleet
Sold to China 2007, now Hua Ying 386
109647-005Ethel Anne Measures1985–2006
2006–2007
(Slipway)
Relief fleet
Sold to China 2007, now Hua Ying 385
109747-006Ruby and Arthur Reed1985–1996
1996–1999
1999–2007
2007–2008
(Slipway)
Relief fleet
(Slipway)
Relief fleet
Sold to China 2008, now Hua Ying 382
110947-007City of Edinburgh1985–1997
1997–2002
2002–2008
(Slipway)
(Afloat)
Relief fleet
770576383Sold 2010. Renamed ADES 19 Centenario BSE with ADES Uruguay at Puerto De Colonia
111047-008Phil Mead1986–2006
2006–2008
(Slipway)
Relief fleet
Sold to China 2008, now Hua Ying 384
111147-009William Luckin1986–2000
2000–2007
(Afloat)
(Afloat)
412100300Sold to China 2008, now Hua Ying 383
111247-010RFA Sir Galahad1986–2006
2006–2008
2008–2009
2009
(Slipway)
Relief fleet
(Slipway)
Relief fleet
912322377Sold 2010.

October 2023, Pleasure boat, Shipped to Germany.
111447-011The Lady Rank1987–2008
2008–2011
(Slipway)
Relief fleet
770576384Sold 2011.
Renamed ADES 20 Bicentenary BSE with ADES Uruguay at Puerto del Buceo
111547-012Good Shepherd1988–2000
2000–2001
2001–2010
Relief fleet
(Afloat)
Relief fleet
Sold 2010.
Renamed Carnarc.
September 2023, Pilot boat at North Longman Marina, Inverness.
111647-013Robert and Violet1988–2013
2013–2015
2015
(Slipway)
(Afloat)
Relief fleet
Sold 2015.
Renamed Puffin XII with Sri Lanka Lifeboat Institution at Colombo.
111747-014James Bibby1986–2008
2008–2010
2010
2010–2011
(Slipway)
Relief fleet
(Slipway)
Relief fleet
Sold 2011.
Renamed Pioneer.
Aft Cabin removed, Workboat in Invergordon.
2023, Private ownership, Rothesay Dock, Clydebank[5]
112047-015Hetty Rampton1987–2012
2012–2015
(Slipway)
Relief fleet
232002731Sold 2015.
Renamed Inch Burn.
December 2022, Pilot Boat with Montrose Port Authority.
112147-016Norman Salvesen1988–1997
1998–2009
2009–2014
(Slipway)
(Slipway)
Relief fleet
Sold June 2014.
December 2023, at Conwy Marina
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.
May 2023, Sold to Mains Farm Wigwams of Stirling, to be used as a Glamping Pod.[6]
112647-018Max Aitken III1987–2009
2009–2014
(Slipway)
Relief fleet
232003197Sold June 2014.
Renamed Sir Max Aitken III.
2019, In Service with Jersey Lifeboat Association (Independent) at St Helier.
112747-019Babs and Agnes Robertson1988–2006
2006–2013
(Slipway)
(Slipway)
Kept afloat from 1998. Sold 2014.
Renamed FVC-1.
May 2023, Unaltered pleasure boat at Riverside Marina, River Hamble
113047-0221988–2008
2008–2009
(Afloat)
Relief fleet
Sold 2010.
Renamed PB Fortune.
January 2024, In Service with Seychelles Coast Guard at Mahe Plateau.[7]
113147-023City of Sheffield1988–1996
1996–1997
1997–2000
2000–2001
2001–2016
(Afloat)
Relief fleet
(Afloat)
Relief fleet
(Afloat)
On display at the National Emergency Services Museum, Sheffield
113247-020Spirit of Lowestoft1987–2014
2014–2018
(Afloat)
Relief fleet
To RNLI Museum, Chatham Dockyard 19 June 2019
113347-021The Famous Grouse1987–2004
2004–2010
2010–2012
Relief fleet
(Afloat)
Relief fleet
316028835Sold May 2013 to the Canadian Lifeboat Institution, Richmond, British Columbia and renamed Fraser Lifeboat 1A-04[8]
113747-024Hilda Jarrett1988–2012
2012–2015
(Slipway)
Relief fleet
232002581Sold 2015. Named North Esk, Pilot Boat with Montrose Port Authority.
March 2023, Renamed Ascension, Pilot Boat, Stornoway Port.
113847-025Lord Saltoun1988–1999
1999–2012
(Slipway)
Relief fleet
Sold October 2012.
Renamed Norma-G
December 2021, Work boat with D. Ferran and Sons, Belfast Northern Ireland. On harbour wall at Carrickfergus.[9]
113947-026Garside1988–2013
2013–2016
2016–2018
(Slipway)
No.2 (Afloat)
Relief fleet
232015993Retained on station alongside Tamar boat until completion of new boathouse in Oct 2016. Sold 2018.
Renamed Triton.
November 2023, Workboat and crew transfer, Falmouth Docks.
114047-027George Gibson1988–2010
2010–2011
(Afloat)
Relief fleet
232008820Sold January 2013. Renamed The John Faulding (SGI-007).
December 2023, Construction safety boat for Specialist Group International at Portishead Marina.
114147-028Sir John Fisher1989–1992
1992–2017
Relief fleet
(Davit)
Sold 2018.
Renamed Eala, May 2022, Private Ownership, Troon.
114247-029Mariners Friend1989–2007
2007–2012
2012–2013
Relief Fleet
(Afloat)
Relief fleet
Sold June 2014. Renamed Suilbhir Giomach (Jolly Lobster).
December 2021, Dive/Workboat at Loch Scridain (summer) and Dunstaffnage Marina (winter).
114547-030David Robinson1988–2011
2011–2016
(Slipway)
Relief fleet
Sold 2017. Renamed Diligence J.
October 2018, Crew transfer boat for Togo Oil and Marine, at Lomé, Togo, West Africa.[10]
114647-031Voluntary Worker1988–1990
1990–2005
2005–2017
(Afloat)
Relief fleet
(Slipway)
Sold 2017.
December 2023, In storage with Helical Technology, Lytham, Lancs. Lytham Motive Power (Private) Museum (no public access).
114747-032Sir William Hillary1988–2018 (Slipway)Sold.
Renamed Sir William
December 2023, Private Ownership at Portishead Marina.
115147-033Mary Irene Millar1989–2011
2011–2013
(Afloat)
Relief fleet
Sold December 2013.
May 2023, Pleasure boat at Mayflower Marina, Plymouth.
115247-034Moonbeam1989–2015
2015–2016
(Afloat)
Relief fleet
Sold November 2016.
December 2023, Private Ownership, Salcombe
115347-035Annie Blaker1989–2019 (Slipway)232003199Last Tyne class boat on station
Sold 2020.
February 2023, Operating with Guernsey Boat Charter at St Peter Port
115447-036Kenneth Thelwall II1990–1994
1996–2011
(Afloat)
Walton and Frinton (Afloat)

Renamed Ocean Lad.
December 2023, Crew/Pilot boat for Atlantic Towage, West End, Bere Island, Co. Cork, Ireland.[11]
115547-037Sarah Emily Harrop1990–1998
1998–2007
2007–2010
2010
2010
(Afloat)
Relief fleet
(Afloat)
Relief fleet
(Slipway)
250002783Sold October 2010.
Renamed Ocean Lass.
September 2023, Ferry/Pilot boat, Bere Island Ferries, Co, Cork Ireland.
115647-038William Street1989–2016 (Afloat)232006029Sold 2016.
Renamed Amelia
Jun 2023, NHS Ferry Charter operated by Seafaris Adventures (Skye) from Mallaig.
115747-039Alexander Coutanche1989–2009
2009–2010
2010–2012
2012–2013
2013–2014
(Afloat)
Relief fleet
(Afloat)
(Afloat)
Relief fleet
232002580Sold 2015. Renamed Euan D
December 2023, Pilot/Work boat with JD Marine operating from Swansea.
1158Sold 2010.
Renamed Odin Nautical with Aegir Nautical, Lymington,
April 2019, Workboat at East Cowes, IOW

China

RNLI ONNameIn Service Station MMSIComments
1074Hua Ying 3882007–Xiamen413770291Last Seen 19 July 2020 Shanghai
1075Hua Ying 3892007–Ningbo413770292Last Seen 2024 Ningbo
1094Hua Ying 3862007–Yantai
1095Hua Ying 3872007–Rongcheng
1096Hua Ying 3842007–Beihai
1097Hua Ying 3852008–Shekou
1110Hua Ying 3822008–Shenzhen
1111Hua Ying 3832008–Guangzhou412100300Last Seen 17 July 2021 Haikou

Uruguay

Operated by ADES Uruguay

RNLI ONNameIn Service Station MMSIComments
1109ADES 19 CentenarioPuerto de Colonia770576383Oct 2023, Retired from Service. For sale
1114ADES 20 Bicentenary2011–2023Puerto del Buceo770576384Oct 2023, Retired from Service. For sale

Sri Lanka

Operated by the Sri Lankan Lifeboat Institution

Jersey

Operated by the Jersey Lifeboat Association

Seychelles

Operated by the Seychelles Coast Guard

Canada

Operated by the Canadian Lifeboat Institution

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Denton, Tony . Handbook 2009 . 2009 . Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society . Shrewsbury . 28–33 .
  2. Farewell to the Tyne Ships Monthly July 2019 page 7
  3. Web site: Marine Traffic .
  4. Book: Leonard . Richie . Denton . Tony . Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024 . 2024 . Lifeboats Enthusiasts Society . 4–132.
  5. Book: Lifeboats Past & Present . LBES . 21 . No. 18 Spring 2023 . 18-21.
  6. Web site: Former RNLI lifeboat to become glamping pod after being saved from scrapheap . RNLI . 1 June 2023.
  7. Web site: New patrol boat to help counter maritime threats .
  8. Web site: Our Vessels . 19 January 2023 . Canadian Lifeboat Institution.
  9. Web site: D Ferran & Sons .
  10. Web site: Togo Oil & Marine .
  11. Web site: Atlantic Towage .
  12. Web site: New Boat for Sri Lankan Lifeboat Institution . 8 February 2016.
  13. Web site: Independent Investigation Report: Jersey Lifeboat Association Grounding . Jersey Govt. . 2 February 2022.