Tyne-class lifeboat
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2017}}
| {{Infobox ship begin|sclass=2}}
{{Infobox ship image |Ship image=File:Lowestoft Lifeboat Launched to a Medical Emergency aboard Tanker Ocean Crown, 13th June 2009.JPG |Ship caption= }} {{Infobox ship class overview |Name=Tyne-class lifeboat |Builders= |Operators=*File:Flag of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.svg Royal National Lifeboat Institution
|Class before= {{Lbb|Rother}}, {{Lbb|Oakley}}, {{Lbb|Solent}} |Class after= {{Lbb|Trent}}, {{Lbb|Tamar}}, {{Lbb|Shannon}} |Subclasses= |Cost= £1.2 Million |Built range= 1982–1990 |In service range= 1983–2025 |In commission range= |Total ships building= |Total ships planned= |Total ships completed= 40 |Total ships cancelled= |Total ships active= 4 |Total ships lost= |Total ships retired= 36 |Total ships preserved= 2 }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header= |Header caption= |Ship class= |Ship displacement= {{convert|26|LT|t|0|abbr=on}} |Ship length={{convert|47|ft|m|abbr=on}} |Ship beam={{convert|14|ft|8|in|m|abbr=on}} |Ship draught={{convert|4|ft|2|in|m|abbr=on}} |Ship propulsion=*2 × DDEC V6 diesels
|Ship speed= {{convert|17.6|kn|mph km/h|lk=in}} |Ship range= {{convert|240|nmi|km|lk=in|abbr=on}} |Ship capacity=*Self Righting 20
|Ship complement=6 + doctor |Ship sensors= |Ship EW= |Ship armour= |Ship notes= }} |
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The Tyne-class was superseded by the {{Lbc|Tamar}}, which is 7 knots faster than the Tyne class.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 {{Lbc|Shannon}} lifeboats.
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 {{Lbs|Selsey}} 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 {{Lbs|Shoreham Harbour}} 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. Selsey received a new {{Lbc|Shannon}} lifeboat in 2017 after almost 34 years' service by Tyne-class boats, the longest of any station. {{cite book |last1=Leonard |first1=Richie |last2=Denton |first2=Tony |title=Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2025 |date=2025 |publisher=Lifeboats Enthusiasts Society |pages=62–67}}
The last Tyne class boat in RNLI service was at Wicklow and this was withdrawn on 4 April 2019.Farewell to the Tyne Ships Monthly July 2019 page 7
14 Tyne-class lifeboats continued in service with other rescue services around the world. As of March 2025, 11 are still listed in service, but as updates for 8 boats in China are not forthcoming (and only one boat at Ningbo still showing any activity), 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
| class="wikitable"
! ON{{efn|ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.}} ! Op. No.{{efn|Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.}} ! Name ! Principal Station ! MMSI{{cite web |title=Marine Traffic |url=https://www.marinetraffic.com/}} |
| 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 | Relief Fleet | 413770292 | Sold to China 2007, now Hua Ying 389 |
| 1094
| 47-003 | James Burrough | 1984–2006 | {{Lbs|Padstow}} (Slipway) | | Sold to China 2007, now Hua Ying 387 |
| 1095
| 47-004 | St. Cybi II | 1985–1997 | {{Lbs|Holyhead}} (Slipway) | | Sold to China 2007, now Hua Ying 386 |
| 1096
| 47-005 | Ethel Anne Measures | 1985–2006 | {{Lbs|The Mumbles}} (Slipway) | | Sold to China 2007, now Hua Ying 385 |
| 1097
| 47-006 | 1985–1996 | {{Lbs|Cromer}} (Slipway) | | Sold to China 2008, now Hua Ying 382 |
| 1109
| 47-007 | City of Edinburgh | 1985–1997 | {{Lbs|Fraserburgh}} (Slipway) | 770576383 | Sold 2010. See ADES Uruguay below. |
| 1110
| 47-008 | Phil Mead | 1986–2006 | {{Lbs|Teesmouth}} (Slipway) | | Sold to China 2008, now Hua Ying 384 |
| 1111
| 47-009 | William Luckin | 1986–2000 | {{Lbs|Arranmore}} (Afloat) | 412100300 | Sold to China 2008, now Hua Ying 383 |
| 1112
| 47-010 | RFA Sir Galahad | 1986–2006 | {{Lbs|Tenby}} (Slipway) | 912322377 | Sold 2010. |
| 1114
| 47-011 | The Lady Rank | 1987–2008 | {{Lbs|Angle}} (Slipway) | 770576384 | Sold 2011. See ADES Uruguay below. |
| 1115
| 47-012 | Good Shepherd | 1988–2000 | Relief fleet | | Sold 2010. |
| 1116
| 47-013 | Robert and Violet | 1988–2013 | {{Lbs|Moelfre}} (Slipway) | 232002745 | Sold 2015. See Sri Lanka Lifeboat Institution below. |
| 1117
| 47-014 | James Bibby | 1986–2008 | {{Lbs|Barrow}} (Slipway) | | Sold 2011. Renamed Pioneer. |
| 1120
| 47-015 | Hetty Rampton | 1987–2012 | {{Lbs|Porthdinllaen}} (Slipway) | 232002731 | Sold 2015. Renamed Inch Burn. |
| 1121
| 47-016 | Norman Salvesen | 1988–1997 | {{Lbs|Wick}} (Slipway) | | {{nowrap|Kept afloat from 1994.}} |
| 1122
| 47-017 | Owen and Ann Aisher | 1988–2012 | Relief fleet | | Sold 2013. Renamed MVS Prince George V104. |
| 1126
| 47-018 | Max Aitken III | 1987–2009 | {{Lbs|Bembridge}} (Slipway) | 232003197 | Sold June 2014. Renamed Sir Max Aitken III. See Jersey Lifeboat Association (Independent) below. |
| 1127
| 47-019 | Babs and Agnes Robertson | 1988–2006 | {{Lbs|Peterhead}} (Slipway) | | Kept afloat from 1998. |
| 1130
| 47-022 | {{nowrap|The Baltic Exchange II}} | 1988–2008 | {{Lbs|Salcombe}} (Afloat) | | Sold 2010. Renamed PB Fortune. See Seychelles Coast Guard below.{{cite web |title=New patrol boat to help counter maritime threats |url=https://nation.sc/archive/227285/new-patrol-boat-to-help-counter-maritime-threats}} |
| 1131
| 47-023 | City of Sheffield | 1988–1996 | {{lbs|Whitby}} (Afloat) | | On display at the National Emergency Services Museum, Sheffield |
| 1132
| 47-020 | 1987–2014 | {{Lbs|Lowestoft}} (Afloat) | | To RNLI Museum, Chatham Dockyard, 19 June 2019 |
| 1133
| 47-021 | The Famous Grouse | 1987–2004 | Relief fleet | 316028835 | Sold May 2013. Renamed Fraser Lifeboat 1A-04. See Canadian Lifeboat Institution below.{{cite web | url = https://canadianlifeboatinstitution.org/our-vessels/ | title = Our Vessels | accessdate = 19 January 2023 | publisher = Canadian Lifeboat Institution}} |
| 1137
| 47-024 | Hilda Jarrett | 1988–2012 | {{Lbs|Baltimore}} (Slipway) | 232002581 | Sold 2015. Renamed North Esk, Pilot Boat with Montrose Port Authority. |
| 1138
| 47-025 | Lord Saltoun | 1988–1999 | {{Lbs|Longhope}} (Slipway) | | Sold October 2012. |
| 1139
| 47-026 | Garside | 1988–2013 | {{Lbs|St Davids}} (Slipway) | 232015993 | Retained on station alongside {{Lbc|Tamar}} lifeboat until completion of new boathouse in Oct 2016. |
| 1140
| 47-027 | George Gibson | 1988–2010 | {{Lbs|Appledore}} (Afloat) | 232008820 | Sold January 2013. Renamed The John Faulding (SGI-007). |
| 1141
| 47-028 | Sir John Fisher | 1989–1992 | Relief fleet | | Sold 2018. |
| 1142
| 47-029 | Mariners Friend | 1989–2007 | Relief Fleet | | Sold June 2014. Renamed Suilbhir Giomach (Jolly Lobster). |
| 1145
| 47-030 | David Robinson | 1988–2011 | {{Lbs|The Lizard}} (Slipway) | | Sold 2017. Renamed Diligence J. |
| 1146
| 47-031 | Voluntary Worker | 1988–1990 | {{Lbs|Lytham St Annes}} (Afloat) | | Sold 2017. |
| 1147
| 47-032 | Sir William Hillary | 1988–2018 | {{Lbs|Douglas}} (Slipway) | | Sold 2020. Renamed Sir William. |
| 1151
| 47-033 | Mary Irene Millar | 1989–2011 | {{Lbs|Portpatrick}} (Afloat) | | Sold December 2013. |
| 1152
| 47-034 | Moonbeam | 1989–2015 | {{Lbs|Montrose}} (Afloat) | | Sold November 2016. |
| 1153
| 47-035 | Annie Blaker | 1989–2019 | {{Lbs|Wicklow}} (Slipway) | 232003199 | Last Tyne class boat on station |
| 1154
| 47-036 | Kenneth Thelwall II | 1990–1994 | {{Lbs|Ramsgate}} (Afloat) | | {{nowrap|Sold September 2011.}} |
| 1155
| 47-037 | Sarah Emily Harrop | 1990–1998 | {{Lbs|Lytham St Annes}} (Afloat) | 250002783 | Sold October 2010. Renamed Ocean Lass. |
| 1156
| 47-038 | William Street | 1989–2016 | {{Lbs|Fleetwood}} (Afloat) | 232006029 | Sold 2016. Renamed Amelia. |
| 1157
| 47-039 | Alexander Coutanche | 1989–2009 | {{Lbs|St Helier}} (Afloat) | 232002580 | Sold 2015. Renamed Euan D. |
| 1158
| {{nowrap|47-040}} | {{nowrap|Hermione Lady Colwyn}} | {{nowrap|1990–2010}} | {{nowrap|{{Lbs|Shoreham Harbour}} (Slipway)}} | | Sold 2010. |
{{notelist}}
=China=
| class="wikitable"
! RNLI ON ! Name ! Station ! MMSI |
| 1074
| Hua Ying 388 | 2007– | Xiamen | 413770291 | Last Seen 19 July 2020 Shanghai |
| 1075
| Hua Ying 389 | 2007– | Ningbo | 413770292 | Last Seen Jan 2025 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– | 412100300 | Last Seen 17 July 2021 Haikou |
=Uruguay=
Operated by ADES Uruguay
| class="wikitable"
! RNLI ON ! Name ! Station ! MMSI |
| 1109
| ADES 19 Centenario | {{nowrap|2010–2023}} | 770576383 | Oct 2023, Retired from Service. Sold 2024. |
| 1114
| ADES 20 Bicentenary | 2011–2023 | 770576384 | Oct 2023, Retired from Service. |
=Sri Lanka=
Operated by the Sri Lankan Lifeboat Institution
| class="wikitable"
! RNLI ON ! Name ! Station ! MMSI |
| 1116
| {{nowrap|2015–2020}} | Colombo | | {{cite web |title=New patrol boat to help counter maritime threats |url=https://nation.sc/archive/227285/new-patrol-boat-to-help-counter-maritime-threats}} Last seen in service, MMSI, 18 February 2020. |
=Jersey=
Operated by the Jersey Lifeboat Association
| class="wikitable"
! RNLI ON ! Name ! Station ! MMSI |
| 1126
| {{nowrap|Sir Max Aitken III}} | {{nowrap|2019–2021}} | {{nowrap|St Helier}} | 232003197 | Renamed Sir Max Aitken III. Lifeboat damaged on call on 10 November 2021, grounding on rocks at Pierre au Poisson. Repairs were carried out during 2022, and the boat returned to SAR service on 30 May 2023.{{cite web |title=Independent Investigation Report: Jersey Lifeboat Association Grounding |url=https://www.gov.je/Freedom%20of%20Information%20library/ID%20FOI%205585%20Marine%20Accident%20Report%20(pdf)%2020220520.pdf |publisher=Jersey Govt. |access-date=2 February 2022}} |
=Seychelles=
Operated by the Seychelles Coast Guard
| class="wikitable"
! RNLI ON ! Name ! In Service ! Comments |
| 1130
| PB Fortune | 2010– | Mahe Plateau | Still in service, January 2024 |
=Canada=
Operated by the Canadian Lifeboat Institution
| class="wikitable"
! RNLI ON ! Name ! Station ! MMSI ! Comments |
| 1133
| Fraser Lifeboat 1A-04 | 2013– | Steveston, Richmond, BC | 316028835 | |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Tyne class lifeboats}}
- [http://rnli.org/aboutus/lifeboatsandstations/lifeboats/Pages/Tyne.aspx RNLI fleet:Tyne]
{{RNLI lifeboat classes}}