![]() RNLB 12-35 Inchcape
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Class overview | |
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Name | Mersey Class |
Operators |
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Preceded by | Rother, Oakley |
Succeeded by | Shannon |
Cost | Β£350,000 |
Built | 1987β1993 |
In service | 1988β |
Completed | 38 |
Active | 12 |
Retired | 26 |
General characteristics | |
Displacement | 14.3 t (14.1 long tons) |
Length | 11.62 m (38.1 ft) |
Beam | 4.0 m (13.1 ft) |
Draught | 1.02 m (3.3 ft) |
Propulsion | 2 Γ 285 hp (213 kW) Caterpillar 3208T diesel engines |
Speed | 17 knots (20 mph; 31 km/h) |
Range | 240 nmi (440 km) |
Endurance | 10.25 hours approx. at cruising speed |
Capacity | 43 survivors (self-righting upββto 21) |
Complement | 6 |
Mersey-class lifeboats are All-weather lifeboats operated by, the: Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) from stations around theββcoasts 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 upββto 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.
Historyβ»
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 slipway/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.
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.
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.
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.
Descriptionβ»
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.
Galleryβ»
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Launching from a carriage and Talus MB-H amphibious tractor
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Launching from a slipway
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Stern showing the protected propellers
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Engine room
Fleetβ»
RNLI Active Fleetβ»
ON | Op.No. | Name | In service | Station | Launching method | MMSI | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1170 | 12-13 | Keep Fit Association | 1991β2021 2021β |
Filey Relief fleet |
Carriage |
232004395 | |
1172 | 12-15 | Frank and Lena Clifford of Stourbridge |
1992β2023 2023β |
New Quay Relief fleet |
Carriage |
232002726 | |
1174 | 12-17 | Kingdom of Fife | 1991β | Anstruther | Carriage | 232002250 | |
1177 | 12-20 | Leonard Kent | 1991β2021 2022β |
Margate Newcastle |
Carriage Carriage |
232002280 | |
1181 | 12-22 | Ruby Clery | 1992β2019 2019β2022 2022β2023 2024β |
Peel Ramsey Douglas Douglas |
Carriage Carriage Slipway Slipway |
232002727 | |
1191 | 12-32 | Joy and Charles Beeby | 1993β2023 2023β2024 2024β |
Berwick-upon-Tweed Douglas Relief fleet |
Slipway Slipway |
232002575 | |
1193 | 12-34 | Freddie Cooper | 1993β | Aldeburgh | Carriage | 232003208 | On 12 July 2023, RNLI announced withdrawal of ALB, date tbc. |
1194 | 12-35 | Inchcape | 1993β2024 2024β |
Arbroath Relief fleet |
Slipway |
232002590 | ALB withdrawn from Arbroath, March 17 2024 |
RNLI Retired Fleetβ»
ON | Op.No. | Name | In service | Station | Launching method | MMSI | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1119 | β | β | 1987β1988 | β | β | β | Sold 1989. Named Spirit. June 2023, at Kilclare, Co.Leitrim |
1124 | 12-001 | Peggy and Alex Caird | 1988β1995 1995β1999 1999 1999β2009 2009β2010 2010β2015 |
Bridlington Relief fleet Lytham St Annes Relief fleet Bembridge Relief fleet |
Carriage Carriage Carriage |
316036365 | Sold Oct 2023, renamed Life Aquatic 12-001, in private ownership at Lake Champlain, South Hero, Vermont, USA |
1125 | 12-002 | Sealink Endeavour | 1987β1989 1989β2018 |
Trials Hastings |
Carriage |
β | Sold 2020. Renamed Endeavour. March 2023, Workboat with Ambrey Shipyards at Hythe Marine, Hampshire. |
1161 | 12-003 | Doris M Mann of Ampthill | 1990β2023 | Wells-next-the-Sea | Carriage |
β | Sold 2023. December 2023, Private Ownership, Progreso, YucatΓ‘n, Mexico |
1162 | 12-004 | Royal Shipwright | 1990β2007 2007β2008 2008β2016 |
Relief fleet Cromer Relief fleet |
Carriage | 232002744 | Sold 2016. Renamed Patricia. July 2023, Survey Pilot Vessel, laid up at Mostyn Docks |
1163 | 12-005 | Lady of Hilbre | 1990β2014 2014β2021 |
Hoylake Relief fleet |
Carriage |
β | Sold 2022. March 2022, Private Ownership, Medway Bridge Marina |
1164 | 12-006 | Andy Pearce | 1990β2017 2017β2018 |
Llandudno Relief fleet |
Carriage |
β | Sold in 2019. Renamed Njord. June 2023, Boat trips/charter at Burwick, Orkney |
1165 | 12-007 | Spirit of Derbyshire | 1990β2015 2015 |
Ilfracombe Relief fleet |
Carriage |
215000129 | Sold 2015. November 2023, Renamed Mercy, Valletta, Malta |
1166 | 12-008 | Lincolnshire Poacher | 1990β2017 2017β2021 |
Skegness Relief fleet |
Carriage |
232003204 | February 2024, Renamed Samuel Wesley, at St Peter Port. |
1167 | 12-009 | The Princess Royal (Civil Service No.41) |
1990β2015 2015β2016 |
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 | 1991β2021 2021β2023 |
Pwllheli Relief fleet |
Carriage |
232003205 | Sold November 2023. |
1148 | 12-11 | Lifetime Care | 1989β1990 1990β1991 1991β2012 2012 2012β2017 |
Relief fleet Workington No.2 Relief fleet Leverburgh Relief fleet |
Afloat Afloat |
β | Sold in 2017. October 2022, Workboat for McMullen Shellfish, Glenariffe Harbour, Co. Antrim |
1169 | 12-12 | Marine Engineer | 1990β1995 1995β2018 2018β2022 2022 |
Relief fleet Bridlington Douglas Relief fleet |
Carriage Slipway |
232003625 | Sold 2024. Private Ownership, Amsterdam |
1171 | 12-14 | Ann and James Ritchie | 1991β2019 2019β2021 |
Ramsey Relief fleet |
Carriage |
250013635 | Sold 2022. Renamed James Stevens. November 2023, Pilot Boat at New Ross, Wexford, Ireland |
1173 | 12-16 | Grace Darling | 1991β2020 | Seahouses | Carriage | 232002240 | Sold 2021. See ADES Uruguay below. |
1175 | 12-18 | Fanny Victoria Wilkinson and Frank Stubbs | 1991β2016 2016β2018 |
Scarborough Relief fleet |
Carriage |
β | Sold 2018. See Bote Salvavidas de Valparaiso, Chile below |
1176 | 12-19 | The Four Boys | 1991β1998 1998β1999 1999β2016 2016β2017 |
Sennen Cove Relief fleet Amble Relief fleet |
Slipway Afloat |
232020008 | December 2023, Renamed Marieanne, Survey Pilot Vessel at Mostyn Docks. |
1178 | 12-21 | Margaret Jean | 1992β1998 1998β1999 1999β2008 2008β2014 2014β2020 |
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 | 1992β2016 2016β2019 |
Swanage Relief fleet |
Slipway |
β | Sold 2019. Renamed Atlantic. June 2023, Privately owned, Stellendam, Netherlands |
1183 | 12-24 | Lil Cunningham | 1992β2019 | Rhyl | Carriage | 232002741 | Sold 2020. Renamed Ellen Rodger. March 2023, Workboat with Calypso Marine, Burtisland, Fife. |
1184 | 12-25 | Bingo Lifeline | 1992β2020 | Relief fleet | β | 232002573 | Sold 2021. See ADES Uruguay below. |
1185 | 12-26 | Moira Barrie | 1992β2019 | Barmouth | Carriage | 232030482 | Sold 2020. November 2023, Renamed Arwen. Ferry Boat for Western Isles Cruises, Mallaig |
1186 | 12-27 | Pride and Spirit | 1992β2014 2014β2016 2016β2019 |
Dungeness Clifden Relief fleet |
Carriage Afloat |
232003202 | Sold 2021. See ADES Uruguay below. |
1187 | 12-28 | Mary Margaret | 1992β2004 2004β2019 2019β2022 2022β2023 |
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 | 1993β2022 2022 |
Newcastle Relief fleet |
Carriage |
244729436 | Sold 2022. Renamed The Mersey (3-YG-894). November 2023, privately owned in Leeuwarden, Netherlands |
1189 | 12-30 | Her Majesty The Queen | 1993β1996 1996β1999 1999 1999β2018 2018β2021 |
Relief fleet Cromer Relief fleet Lytham St Annes Relief fleet |
Carriage Carriage |
232002574 | 15 November 2023, On display at Chatham Historic Dockyard |
1190 | 12-31 | Doris Bleasdale | 1993β2019 | Clogherhead | Carriage | 232031477 | Sold 2020. December 2022, Renamed Knot on Call, Pleasure boat at Tenby, Pembrokeshire |
1192 | 12-33 | Fisherman's Friend | 1993β1999 1999 1999β2016 2016β2019 |
Relief fleet Lytham St Annes Relief fleet Clifden |
Carriage Afloat |
β | Sold 2020. March 2021, Survey Vessel, Galway, Ireland, last seen, Crosshaven, March 2024. |
1195 | 12-36 | Royal Thames | 1993β2012 2012β2018 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 | 1993β2018 | Girvan | Afloat | β | Sold August 2021. Renamed Ailsa Craig. April 2022, Under survey, Island Harbour Marina, IOW |
Uruguayβ»
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)
RNLI ON | Name | In Service | Station | MMSI | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1173 | ADES 28 Grace Darling | 2021β | Colonia del Sacramento | 232002240 | |
1184 | ADES 29 BROU 125 Anniversario | 2021β | Montevideo | 232002573 | |
1186 | ADES 30 | 2021β | Punta del Este | 232003202 |
Chileβ»
Operated by Bote Salvavidas de Valparaiso, Chile
RNLI ON | Name | In Service | Station | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|
1175 | Valparaiso IV | 2018β | Valparaiso | Images of 12-28 in Chile are here, still in near RNLI colours. |
Notesβ»
- ^ 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. - ^ Sold 2021. Renamed Bailiwick Reliance at St Peter Port.
- ^ Sold in 2018.
Renamed The Four Boys of Pendennis. Workboat in Falmouth.
Referencesβ»
- ^ Wake-Walker, Edward; Deane, Heather; Purches, Georgette (1989). Lifeboat! Royal National Lifeboat Institution. Shepperton: Ian Allan. pp. 38β43. ISBN 0-7110-1835-9.
- ^ Denton, Tony (2009). Handbook 2009. Shrewsbury: Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 30β35.
- ^ Wake-Walker, Edward (2008). The Lifeboats Story. Stroud: Sutton Publishing. p. 69. ISBN 978-0-7509-4858-6.
- ^ "HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh joins RNLI for retirement of HM The Queen lifeboat". RNLI. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
- ^ "Mersey". Lifeboats and stations. RNLI. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
- ^ Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2024). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024. Lifeboats Enthusiasts Society. pp. 4β132.
- ^ "Marine Traffic".
- ^ RNLI (12 July 2023). "Changes to maintain lifesaving service at Aldeburgh and Happisburgh RNLI". RNLI.
- ^ "Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
- ^ "Marine Traffic The Mersey". Retrieved 22 November 2023.
- ^ "ADES Uruguay". Retrieved 27 November 2023.