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The Tyne class was superseded by the Tamar-class lifeboat, which is 7 knots faster than the Tyne class.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.
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Lady Colwyn (ON 1158), went into service at in September 1990 and served at that station until 2010 when she was withdrawn and sold, the only Tyne not to record over twenty years' service.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The last Tyne class boat in RNLI service was at Wicklow and this was withdrawn on 4 April 2019.[2]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.
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.
| ON | Op. No. | Name | In service | Principal Station | MMSI[3] | Comments[4] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1074 | 47-001 | City of London | 1983-2006 | Selsey (Slipway) | 413770291 | Sold to China 2007, now Hua Ying 388 |
| 1075 | 47-002 | Sam and Joan Woods | 1984–1993 1993–1996 1996–2006 | Relief Fleet (Afloat) Relief Fleet | 413770292 | Sold to China 2007, now Hua Ying 389 |
| 1094 | 47-003 | James Burrough | 1984–2006 2006 | (Slipway) Relief fleet | Sold to China 2007, now Hua Ying 387 | |
| 1095 | 47-004 | St. Cybi II (Civil Service No.40) | 1985–1997 1997–2006 | (Slipway) Relief fleet | Sold to China 2007, now Hua Ying 386 | |
| 1096 | 47-005 | Ethel Anne Measures | 1985–2006 2006–2007 | (Slipway) Relief fleet | Sold to China 2007, now Hua Ying 385 | |
| 1097 | 47-006 | Ruby and Arthur Reed | 1985–1996 1996–1999 1999–2007 2007–2008 | (Slipway) Relief fleet (Slipway) Relief fleet | Sold to China 2008, now Hua Ying 382 | |
| 1109 | 47-007 | City of Edinburgh | 1985–1997 1997–2002 2002–2008 | (Slipway) (Afloat) Relief fleet | 770576383 | Sold 2010. Renamed ADES 19 Centenario BSE with ADES Uruguay at Puerto De Colonia |
| 1110 | 47-008 | Phil Mead | 1986–2006 2006–2008 | (Slipway) Relief fleet | Sold to China 2008, now Hua Ying 384 | |
| 1111 | 47-009 | William Luckin | 1986–2000 2000–2007 | (Afloat) (Afloat) | 412100300 | Sold to China 2008, now Hua Ying 383 |
| 1112 | 47-010 | RFA Sir Galahad | 1986–2006 2006–2008 2008–2009 2009 | (Slipway) Relief fleet (Slipway) Relief fleet | 912322377 | Sold 2010. October 2023, Pleasure boat, Shipped to Germany. |
| 1114 | 47-011 | The Lady Rank | 1987–2008 2008–2011 | (Slipway) Relief fleet | 770576384 | Sold 2011. Renamed ADES 20 Bicentenary BSE with ADES Uruguay at Puerto del Buceo |
| 1115 | 47-012 | Good Shepherd | 1988–2000 2000–2001 2001–2010 | Relief fleet (Afloat) Relief fleet | Sold 2010. Renamed Carnarc. September 2023, Pilot boat at North Longman Marina, Inverness. | |
| 1116 | 47-013 | Robert and Violet | 1988–2013 2013–2015 2015 | (Slipway) (Afloat) Relief fleet | Sold 2015. Renamed Puffin XII with Sri Lanka Lifeboat Institution at Colombo. | |
| 1117 | 47-014 | James Bibby | 1986–2008 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] | |
| 1120 | 47-015 | Hetty Rampton | 1987–2012 2012–2015 | (Slipway) Relief fleet | 232002731 | Sold 2015. Renamed Inch Burn. December 2022, Pilot Boat with Montrose Port Authority. |
| 1121 | 47-016 | Norman Salvesen | 1988–1997 1998–2009 2009–2014 | (Slipway) (Slipway) Relief fleet | Sold June 2014. December 2023, at Conwy Marina | |
| 1122 | 47-017 | Owen and Ann Aisher | 1988–2012 | Relief fleet | Sold 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] | |
| 1126 | 47-018 | Max Aitken III | 1987–2009 2009–2014 | (Slipway) Relief fleet | 232003197 | Sold June 2014. Renamed Sir Max Aitken III. 2019, In Service with Jersey Lifeboat Association (Independent) at St Helier. |
| 1127 | 47-019 | Babs and Agnes Robertson | 1988–2006 2006–2013 | (Slipway) (Slipway) | Kept afloat from 1998. Sold 2014. Renamed FVC-1. May 2023, Unaltered pleasure boat at Riverside Marina, River Hamble | |
| 1130 | 47-022 | 1988–2008 2008–2009 | (Afloat) Relief fleet | Sold 2010. Renamed PB Fortune. January 2024, In Service with Seychelles Coast Guard at Mahe Plateau.[7] | ||
| 1131 | 47-023 | City of Sheffield | 1988–1996 1996–1997 1997–2000 2000–2001 2001–2016 | (Afloat) Relief fleet (Afloat) Relief fleet (Afloat) | On display at the National Emergency Services Museum, Sheffield | |
| 1132 | 47-020 | Spirit of Lowestoft | 1987–2014 2014–2018 | (Afloat) Relief fleet | To RNLI Museum, Chatham Dockyard 19 June 2019 | |
| 1133 | 47-021 | The Famous Grouse | 1987–2004 2004–2010 2010–2012 | Relief fleet (Afloat) Relief fleet | 316028835 | Sold May 2013 to the Canadian Lifeboat Institution, Richmond, British Columbia and renamed Fraser Lifeboat 1A-04[8] |
| 1137 | 47-024 | Hilda Jarrett | 1988–2012 2012–2015 | (Slipway) Relief fleet | 232002581 | Sold 2015. Named North Esk, Pilot Boat with Montrose Port Authority. March 2023, Renamed Ascension, Pilot Boat, Stornoway Port. |
| 1138 | 47-025 | Lord Saltoun | 1988–1999 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] | |
| 1139 | 47-026 | Garside | 1988–2013 2013–2016 2016–2018 | (Slipway) No.2 (Afloat) Relief fleet | 232015993 | Retained 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. |
| 1140 | 47-027 | George Gibson | 1988–2010 2010–2011 | (Afloat) Relief fleet | 232008820 | Sold January 2013. Renamed The John Faulding (SGI-007). December 2023, Construction safety boat for Specialist Group International at Portishead Marina. |
| 1141 | 47-028 | Sir John Fisher | 1989–1992 1992–2017 | Relief fleet (Davit) | Sold 2018. Renamed Eala, May 2022, Private Ownership, Troon. | |
| 1142 | 47-029 | Mariners Friend | 1989–2007 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). | |
| 1145 | 47-030 | David Robinson | 1988–2011 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] | |
| 1146 | 47-031 | Voluntary Worker | 1988–1990 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). | |
| 1147 | 47-032 | Sir William Hillary | 1988–2018 | (Slipway) | Sold. Renamed Sir William December 2023, Private Ownership at Portishead Marina. | |
| 1151 | 47-033 | Mary Irene Millar | 1989–2011 2011–2013 | (Afloat) Relief fleet | Sold December 2013. May 2023, Pleasure boat at Mayflower Marina, Plymouth. | |
| 1152 | 47-034 | Moonbeam | 1989–2015 2015–2016 | (Afloat) Relief fleet | Sold November 2016. December 2023, Private Ownership, Salcombe | |
| 1153 | 47-035 | Annie Blaker | 1989–2019 | (Slipway) | 232003199 | Last Tyne class boat on station Sold 2020. February 2023, Operating with Guernsey Boat Charter at St Peter Port |
| 1154 | 47-036 | Kenneth Thelwall II | 1990–1994 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] | |
| 1155 | 47-037 | Sarah Emily Harrop | 1990–1998 1998–2007 2007–2010 2010 2010 | (Afloat) Relief fleet (Afloat) Relief fleet (Slipway) | 250002783 | Sold October 2010. Renamed Ocean Lass. September 2023, Ferry/Pilot boat, Bere Island Ferries, Co, Cork Ireland. |
| 1156 | 47-038 | William Street | 1989–2016 | (Afloat) | 232006029 | Sold 2016. Renamed Amelia Jun 2023, NHS Ferry Charter operated by Seafaris Adventures (Skye) from Mallaig. |
| 1157 | 47-039 | Alexander Coutanche | 1989–2009 2009–2010 2010–2012 2012–2013 2013–2014 | (Afloat) Relief fleet (Afloat) (Afloat) Relief fleet | 232002580 | Sold 2015. Renamed Euan D December 2023, Pilot/Work boat with JD Marine operating from Swansea. |
| 1158 | Sold 2010. Renamed Odin Nautical with Aegir Nautical, Lymington, April 2019, Workboat at East Cowes, IOW | |||||
| RNLI ON | Name | In Service | Station | MMSI | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1074 | Hua Ying 388 | 2007– | Xiamen | 413770291 | Last Seen 19 July 2020 Shanghai |
| 1075 | Hua Ying 389 | 2007– | Ningbo | 413770292 | Last Seen 2024 Ningbo |
| 1094 | Hua Ying 386 | 2007– | Yantai | ||
| 1095 | Hua Ying 387 | 2007– | Rongcheng | ||
| 1096 | Hua Ying 384 | 2007– | Beihai | ||
| 1097 | Hua Ying 385 | 2008– | Shekou | ||
| 1110 | Hua Ying 382 | 2008– | Shenzhen | ||
| 1111 | Hua Ying 383 | 2008– | Guangzhou | 412100300 | Last Seen 17 July 2021 Haikou |
Operated by ADES Uruguay
| RNLI ON | Name | In Service | Station | MMSI | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1109 | ADES 19 Centenario | Puerto de Colonia | 770576383 | Oct 2023, Retired from Service. For sale | |
| 1114 | ADES 20 Bicentenary | 2011–2023 | Puerto del Buceo | 770576384 | Oct 2023, Retired from Service. For sale |
Operated by the Sri Lankan Lifeboat Institution
Operated by the Jersey Lifeboat Association
Operated by the Seychelles Coast Guard
Operated by the Canadian Lifeboat Institution