RNLB 12-35 Inchcape
Class overview
NameMersey Class
Operators
Preceded byRother, Oakley
Succeeded byShannon
Cost£350,000
Built1987–1993
In service1988–
Completed38
Active12
Retired26
General characteristics
Displacement14.3 t (14.1 long tons)
Length11.62 m (38.1 ft)
Beam4.0 m (13.1 ft)
Draught1.02 m (3.3 ft)
Propulsion2 × 285 hp (213 kW) Caterpillar 3208T diesel engines
Speed17 knots (20 mph; 31 km/h)
Range240 nmi (440 km)
Endurance10.25 hours approx. at cruising speed
Capacity43 survivors (self-righting up to 21)
Complement6

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, with three former RNLI boats operated by ADES Uruguay, and one by Bote Salvavidas de Valparaiso, Chile . They are capable of operating at up to 17 knots (31 km/h) and can be launched from a carriage or by slipway.

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 trials 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 (ON 1148) 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.[2][3]

In 2014, the first of the Shannon-class lifeboats replaced the Mersey lifeboats at Dungeness, Exmouth and Hoylake. The RNLI intended to have 25 knot lifeboats at all offshore lifeboat stations by the end of 2019. However, this target has not been met, as 4 Merseys are still on station, as of March 2024.

On Wednesday 13 December 2023, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh joined Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) representatives at Windsor Castle for the handover of RNLB 12-30 Her Majesty The Queen (ON 1189) to the Chatham Historic Dockyard.[4]

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 3208T Caterpillar turbo-charged marine diesel engines giving 285 hp at 2,800 rpm. 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 an inflatable X Boat 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][5]

Gallery

Fleet

RNLI Active Fleet

ON[a] Op.No.[b] Name In service[6] Station Launching method MMSI[7] Comments[6]
1170 12-13 Keep Fit Association 1991–2021
2021– 		Filey
Relief fleet 		Carriage

 232004395
1172 12-15 Frank and Lena
Clifford of Stourbridge 		1992–2023
2023– 		New Quay
Relief fleet 		Carriage

 232002726
1174 12-17 Kingdom of Fife 1991– Anstruther Carriage 232002250
1177 12-20 Leonard Kent 1991–2021
2022– 		Margate
Newcastle 		Carriage
Carriage 		232002280
1181 12-22 Ruby Clery 1992–2019
2019–2022
2022–2023
2024– 		Peel
Ramsey
Douglas
Douglas 		Carriage
Carriage
Slipway
Slipway 		232002727
1191 12-32 Joy and Charles Beeby 1993–2023
2023–2024
2024– 		Berwick-upon-Tweed
Douglas
Relief fleet 		Slipway
Slipway

 232002575
1193 12-34 Freddie Cooper 1993– Aldeburgh Carriage 232003208 On 12 July 2023, RNLI announced withdrawal of ALB, date tbc.[8]
1194 12-35 Inchcape 1993–2024
2024– 		Arbroath
Relief fleet 		Slipway

 232002590 ALB withdrawn from Arbroath, March 17 2024[9]

RNLI Retired Fleet

ON[a] Op.No.[b] Name In service[6] Station Launching method MMSI[7] Comments[6]
1119 – – 1987–1988 – – – Sold 1989.
Named Spirit. June 2023, at Kilclare, Co.Leitrim
1124 12-001 Peggy and Alex Caird 1988–1995
1995–1999
1999
1999–2009
2009–2010
2010–2015 		Bridlington
Relief fleet
Lytham St. Annes
Relief fleet
Bembridge
Relief fleet 		Carriage

Carriage

Carriage

 316036365 [Previously 1]
Sold Oct 2023, renamed Life Aquatic 12-001, in private ownership at Lake Champlain, South Hero, Vermont, USA
1125 12-002 Sealink Endeavour 1987–2018 Hastings Carriage Sold 2020.
Renamed Endeavour. March 2023, Workboat with Ambrey Shipyards at Hythe Marine, Hampshire.
1161 12-003 Doris M Mann of Ampthill 1990–2023 Wells-next-the-Sea Carriage
 – Sold 2023.
December 2023, Private Ownership, Progreso, Yucatán, Mexico
1162 12-004 Royal Shipwright 1990–2016 Relief fleet – 232002744 Sold 2016. Renamed Patricia.
July 2023, Survey Pilot Vessel, laid up at Mostyn Docks
1163 12-005 Lady of Hilbre 1990–2014
2014–2021 		Hoylake
Relief fleet 		Carriage

 – Sold 2022.
March 2022, Private Ownership, Medway Bridge Marina
1164 12-006 Andy Pearce 1990–2017
2017–2018 		Llandudno
Relief fleet 		Carriage

 – Sold in 2019. Renamed Njord.
June 2023, Boat trips/charter at Burwick, Orkney
1165 12-007 Spirit of Derbyshire 1990–2015 Ilfracombe Carriage 215000129 Sold 2015.
November 2023, Renamed Mercy, Valletta, Malta
1166 12-008 Lincolnshire Poacher 1990–2017
2017–2021 		Skegness
Relief fleet 		Carriage

 232003204 [Previously 2]
February 2024, Renamed Samuel Wesley, at St Peter Port.
1167 12-009 The Princess Royal
(Civil Service No.41) 		1990–2015
2015–2016 		St Ives
Relief fleet 		Carriage

 232003618 Sold 1 June 2016. Renamed Ulidia.
December 2023, workboat with Coleraine Harbour Commissioners.
1168 12-010 Lily and Vincent Anthony 1991–2021
2021–2023 		Pwllheli
Relief fleet 		Carriage

 232003205 Sold November 2023.
1148 12-11 Lifetime Care 1989–2017 Relief fleet – – Sold in 2017.
October 2022, Workboat for McMullen Shellfish, Glenariffe Harbour, Co. Antrim
1169 12-12 Marine Engineer 1990–1995
1995–2018
2018–2022
2022 		Relief fleet
Bridlington
Douglas
Relief fleet
Carriage
Slipway

 232003625 Sold 2024. Private Ownership, Amsterdam
1171 12-14 Ann and James Ritchie 1991–2019
2019–2021 		Ramsey
Relief fleet 		Carriage

 250013635 Sold 2022. Renamed James Stevens.
November 2023, Pilot Boat at New Ross, Wexford, Ireland
1173 12-16 Grace Darling 1991–2021 Seahouses Carriage 232002240 Sold 2021.
See ADES Uruguay below.
1175 12-18 Fanny Victoria Wilkinson and Frank Stubbs 1991–2016
2016–2018 		Scarborough
Relief fleet 		Carriage

 Sold 2018.
See Bote Salvavidas de Valparaiso, Chile below
1176 12-19 The Four Boys 1991–1998
1998–1999
1999–2016
2016–2017 		Sennen Cove
Relief fleet
Amble
Relief fleet 		Slipway

Afloat

 232020008 [Previously 3]
December 2023, Renamed Marieanne, Survey Pilot Vessel at Mostyn Docks.
1178 12-21 Margaret Jean 1992–1998
1998–1999
1999–2008
2008–2014
2014–2020 		Relief fleet
Lytham St. Annes
Relief fleet
Exmouth
Relief fleet
Carriage

Carriage

 232002290 Sold 2020. Renamed Arwen Myrtle.
December 2023, Private Vessel, St Peter Port, Guernsey
1182 12-23 Robert Charles Brown 1992–2016
2016–2019 		Swanage
Relief fleet 		Slipway

 Sold 2019. Renamed Atlantic.
June 2023, Privately owned, Stellendam, Netherlands
1183 12-24 Lil Cunningham 1992–2019 Rhyl Carriage 232002741 Sold 2020. Renamed Ellen Rodger.
March 2023, Workboat with Calypso Marine, Burtisland, Fife.
1184 12-25 Bingo Lifeline 1992–2020 Relief fleet 232002573 Sold 2021.
See ADES Uruguay below.
1185 12-26 Moira Barrie 1992–2019 Barmouth Carriage 232030482 Sold 2020.
November 2023, Renamed Arwen. Ferry Boat for Western Isles Cruises, Mallaig
1186 12-27 Pride and Spirit 1992–2014
2014–2016
2016–2019 		Dungeness
Clifden
Relief fleet 		Carriage
Afloat

 232003202 Sold 2021.
See ADES Uruguay below.
1187 12-28 Mary Margaret 1992–2004
2004–2019
2019–2022
2022–2023 		Kilmore Quay
Relief fleet
Peel
Relief fleet 		Afloat

Afloat

 232002581 Sold 2023. March 2024, Renamed Pisces, in private ownership, Yarmouth, IOW
1188 12-29 Eleanor and Bryant Girling 1993–2022
2022 		Newcastle
Relief fleet 		Carriage

 244729436 Sold 2022.
Renamed The Mersey (3-YG-894). November 2023, privately owned in Leeuwarden, Netherlands[10]
1189 12-30 Her Majesty The Queen 1993–1996
1996–1999
1999–2018
2018–2023 		Relief fleet
Cromer
Lytham St. Annes
Relief fleet
Carriage
Carriage

 232002574 15 November 2023, On display at Chatham Historic Dockyard[4]
1190 12-31 Doris Bleasdale 1993–2019 Clogherhead Carriage 232031477 Sold 2020.
December 2022, Renamed Knot on Call, Pleasure boat at Tenby, Pembrokeshire
1192 12-33 Fisherman's Friend 1993–1999
1999
1999–2016
2016–2019 		Relief fleet
Lytham St. Annes
Relief fleet
Clifden
Carriage

Afloat 		Sold 2020.
March 2021, Survey Vessel, Galway, Ireland, last seen, Crosshaven, March 2024.
1195 12-36 Royal Thames 1993–2012
2012–2018
2018 		Eastbourne
Leverburgh
Relief fleet 		Afloat
Afloat

 Sold Jan 2021.
Renamed Sea Searcher.
October 2022, Survey Safety Vessel with deeperdorset.co.uk
1196 12-37 Sylvia Burrell 1993–2017 Girvan Afloat Sold August 2021.
Renamed Ailsa Craig.
April 2022, Under survey, Island Harbour Marina, IOW
  1. ^ a b ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
  2. ^ a b Op.No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.

Uruguay

ADES Uruguay is an Honorary Lifesaving Institution founded in 1955. All our volunteers are honorary, people who train weekly to go to sea with the sole purpose of helping whoever requests help. The rescues have no cost to the beneficiaries. At the national level ADES Uruguay is part of the National Emergency Committee and at the international level it is part of the IMRF (International Maritime Rescue Federation)[11]

RNLI ON Name In Service [6] Station MMSI[7] Comments[6]
1173 ADES 28 Grace Darling 2021– Colonia del Sacramento 232002240
1184 ADES 29 BROU 125 Anniversario 2021– Montevideo 232002573
1186 ADES 30 2021– Punta del Este 232003202

Chile

Operated by Bote Salvavidas de Valparaiso, Chile

RNLI ON Name In Service [6] Station Comments[6]
1175 Valparaiso IV 2018– Valparaiso Images of 12-28 in Chile are here, still in near RNLI colours.

Notes

  1. ^ Sold 2015, Renamed Mersey Rose with Needles Pleasure Cruises.
    2017, Renamed Orange Apex, with Orange Force Marine Ltd and Coast Guard Auxiliary Vessel, Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada.
  2. ^ Sold 2021. Renamed Bailiwick Reliance at St Peter Port.
  3. ^ Sold in 2018.
    Renamed The Four Boys of Pendennis. Workboat in Falmouth.

References

  1. ^ Wake-Walker, Edward; Deane, Heather; Purches, Georgette (1989). Lifeboat! Royal National Lifeboat Institution. Shepperton: Ian Allan. pp. 38–43. ISBN 0-7110-1835-9.
  2. ^ a b Denton, Tony (2009). Handbook 2009. Shrewsbury: Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 30–35.
  3. ^ a b Wake-Walker, Edward (2008). The Lifeboats Story. Stroud: Sutton Publishing. p. 69. ISBN 978-0-7509-4858-6.
  4. ^ a b "HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh joins RNLI for retirement of HM The Queen lifeboat". RNLI. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Mersey". Lifeboats and stations. RNLI. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2024). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024. Lifeboats Enthusiasts Society. pp. 4–132.
  7. ^ a b c "Marine Traffic".
  8. ^ RNLI (12 July 2023). "Changes to maintain lifesaving service at Aldeburgh and Happisburgh RNLI". RNLI.
  9. ^ "Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  10. ^ "Marine Traffic The Mersey". Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  11. ^ "ADES Uruguay". Retrieved 27 November 2023.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mersey class lifeboats.
Classes of Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats
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