Mersey-class lifeboat
 12-007 RNLB Spirit Of Derbyshire | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Mersey Class |
| Operators: |
 Royal National Lifeboat Institution |
| Preceded by: | Rother, Oakley |
| Succeeded by: | Shannon |
| Cost: | £350,000 |
| Built: | 1987–1993 |
| In service: | 1988– |
| Completed: | 38 |
| Retired: | 1 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 14 t (14 long tons) |
| Length: | 11.62 m (38.1 ft) |
| Beam: | 3.81 m (12.5 ft) |
| Draught: | 1.02 m (3.3 ft) |
| Propulsion: | 2 × 280 hp (210 kW) Caterpillar 3208T diesel engines |
| Speed: | 16 knots (18 mph; 30 km/h) |
| Range: | 140 nmi (260 km) |
| Endurance: | 10.25 hours approx. at cruising speed |
| Capacity: | 43 survivors (self-righting up to 21) |
| Complement: | 6 |
Mersey class lifeboats are all-weather lifeboats operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) from stations around the coasts of Great Britain and Ireland. They are capable of operating at up to 17 knots (31 km/h) and can be launched from a carriage.
The class name comes from the River Mersey which flows into the Irish Sea in north west England.
History
During the 1960s and 1970s the RNLI introduced fast lifeboats capable of considerable greater speeds than the 8 knots (15 km/h) of existing designs. The first of these were only able to be kept afloat as their propellers would be damaged if launched using a slipway or carriage. In 1982 the steel-hulled Tyne-class came into service which could be launched down a slipway but weighed 25 tons so was not suitable for being moved across a beach on a carriage. The answer was to build a smaller boat with an aluminium hull, which became the Mersey Class.[1]
The first, unnamed, Mersey was built in 1986 and undertook trails during 1987 and 1988. It was then taken out of service and sold the following year. It was working as a trip boat in Westport, County Mayo in 2008 carrying the name Spirit. Two more boats were built in 1988, with the first one to take up active service going to Bridlington Lifeboat Station the following year.[2]
In 1989 12-11 Lifetime Care was built with a fibre-reinforced composite (FRC) hull. Boats built in 1990 continued to use aluminium but from 1991 FRC became the standard hull material.[3][2]
Description
The Mersey is designed to be launched from a carriage, but can also lie afloat or be slipway launched when required. Its propellers are fully protected from damage when launching or in shallow water by partial tunnels and two bilge keels. Its low height can be further reduced by collapsing its mast and aerials which then allows it to be stored in a boathouse. A sealed cabin gives it a self-righting ability.
Power comes from two Caterpillar 285hp turbo-charged engines. It carries 1,110 litres (290 US gal) of fuel to give it a range of 240 nautical miles (440 km). It has a crew of six and can carry a X Boat inflatable which it can deploy at sea. Its survivor compartment can carry 43 people, but more than 21 prevents self-righting should the boat capsize.[3][4]
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Launching from a carriage
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Launching from a slipway
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Stern showing the protected propellers
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Engine room
Fleet
| ON | Op. No. | Name | In service | Station |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1119 | – | – | 1987–1988 | Sold 1989 |
| 1124 | 12-001 | Peggy and Alex Caird | 1988– | Relief fleet |
| 1125 | 12-002 | Sealink Endeavour | 1987– | Hastings |
| 1161 | 12-003 | Doris M Mann of Ampthill | 1990– | Wells |
| 1162 | 12-004 | Royal Shipwright | 1990– | Relief fleet [5][6] |
| 1163 | 12-005 | Lady of Hilbre | 1990– | Hoylake |
| 1164 | 12-006 | Andy Pearce | 1990– | Llandudno |
| 1165 | 12-007 | Spirit of Derbyshire | 1990– | Ilfracombe |
| 1166 | 12-008 | Lincolnshire Poacher | 1990– | Skegness |
| 1167 | 12-009 | The Princess Royal (C.S. No. 41) | 1990– | St Ives |
| 1168 | 12-010 | Lily and Vincent Anthony | 1991– | Pwllheli |
| 1148 | 12-11 | Lifetime Care | 1989–2012 2012 |
Relief fleet Leverburgh[7] |
| 1169 | 12-12 | Marine Engineer | 1991– | Bridlington |
| 1170 | 12-13 | Keep Fit Association | 1991– | Filey |
| 1171 | 12-14 | Ann and James Ritchie | 1991– | Ramsey |
| 1172 | 12-15 | Frank and Lena Clifford of Stourbridge | 1992– | New Quay |
| 1173 | 12-16 | Grace Darling | 1991– | Seahouses |
| 1174 | 12-17 | Kingdom of Fife | 1991– | Anstruther |
| 1175 | 12-18 | Fanny Victoria Wilkinson and Frank Stubbs | 1991– | Scarborough |
| 1176 | 12-19 | The Four Boys | 1991– | Amble |
| 1177 | 12-20 | Leonard Kent | 1991– | Margate |
| 1178 | 12-21 | Margaret Jean | 1992–2008 2008- |
Relief fleet Exmouth |
| 1181 | 12-22 | Ruby Clery | 1992– | Peel |
| 1182 | 12-23 | Robert Charles Brown | 1992– | Swanage |
| 1183 | 12-24 | Lil Cunningham | 1992– | Rhyl |
| 1184 | 12-25 | Bingo Lifeline | 1992– | Relief fleet |
| 1185 | 12-26 | Moira Barrie | 1992– | Barmouth |
| 1186 | 12-27 | Pride and Spirit | 1992– | Dungeness |
| 1187 | 12-28 | Mary Margaret | 1992– | Relief fleet |
| 1188 | 12-29 | Eleanor and Bryant Girling | 1993– | Newcastle |
| 1189 | 12-30 | Her Majesty The Queen | 1993–1996 1996-1999 1999- |
Relief fleet Cromer Lytham St. Annes |
| 1190 | 12-31 | Doris Bleasdale | 1993– | Clogher Head |
| 1191 | 12-32 | Joy and Charles Beeby | 1993– | Berwick-upon-Tweed |
| 1192 | 12-33 | Fisherman's Friend | 1993– | Relief fleet |
| 1193 | 12-34 | Freddie Cooper | 1993– | Aldeburgh |
| 1194 | 12-35 | Inchcape | 1993– | Arbroath |
| 1195 | 12-36 | Royal Thames | 1993–2012 2012- |
Eastbourne Leverburgh[8] |
| 1196 | 12-37 | Sylvia Burrell | 1993– | Girvan |
'ON' is the RNLI's Official Number; 'Op. No.' Is the operational number carried on the hull. Stations given correct in 2009 unless otherwise stated.[2]
References
- ↑ Wake-Walker, Edward; Deane, Heather and Purches, Georgette (1989). Lifeboat! Royal National Lifeboat Institution. Shepperton: Ian Allan. pp. 38–43. ISBN 0-7110-1835-9.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Denton, Tony (2009). Handbook 2009. Shrewsbury: Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 30–35.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Wake-Walker, Edward (2008). The Lifeboats Story. Stroud: Sutton Publishing. p. 69. ISBN 978-0-7509-4858-6.
- ↑ "Mersey". Lifeboats and stations. RNLI. Retrieved 2012-07-12.
- ↑ Royal Shipwright (Relief)
- ↑ New Lifeboat for Cromer
- ↑ "New Hebrides lifeboat station almost ready". RNLI. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
- ↑ "Official opening of one of the RNLI's most remote lifeboat stations". RNLI. 2013-05-03. Retrieved 2013-08-19.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mersey class lifeboats. |
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