Trent-class lifeboat

The Trent-class lifeboat is an all-weather lifeboat operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) from 30 stations around the coasts of Great Britain and Ireland to provide coverage up to 50 miles (80 km) out to sea. Introduced to service in 1994, the class is named after the River Trent, the second longest river wholly in England.

14-32 Corinne Whiteley (ON 1253)
Class overview
Builders: Green Marine
Operators: Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Preceded by: Arun, Tyne, Waveney
Succeeded by: Shannon
Cost: £1.1 million
Built: 1991–2005
In service: 1994–
Completed: 38
Active: 36
Retired: 1
General characteristics
Displacement: 27.5 long tons (28 t)
Length: 14.30 m (46 ft 11 in)
Beam: 4.90 m (16 ft 1 in)
Draught: 1.45 m (4 ft 9 in)
Propulsion: 2 × MAN D2840LE 401 diesel engines, 860 hp (641 kW) (ON1245 is fitted with MAN D2840LE 403EDC engines 909 hp)
Speed: 25 knots (29 mph; 46 km/h)
Range: 250 nmi (460 km)
Capacity:
  • self-righting: 20
  • non-self-righting: 73
Complement: 6

History

In the 1980s the RNLI's Arun and Waveney all-weather lifeboats provided coverage 30 miles (48 km) out to sea, operating at up to 18 knots (33 km/h) to cover the distance in two hours in good weather. However the RNLI felt that they needed the capability to extend their coverage to 50 miles (80 km) radius which would require lifeboats with a top speed of 25 knots (46 km/h). This resulted in the 14 metres (46 ft) Trent and 17 metres (56 ft) Severn lifeboats.[1]

The prototype for the Trent class was built in 1991. It was used for trials until 1994, when it was put into active service at Alderney Lifeboat Station. It remained on station there until their own boat was available in 1995, since when it has served in the relief fleet. Construction of its sister boats continued until 2004.[2]

Design

The Trent is intended to lie afloat at moorings. It has five water-tight bulkheads to create six compartments: fore peak; fore store; survivor cabin; tank space; machinery space; and aft peak steering compartment. Above these is the main deckhouse which has seats for the six crew and a doctor. This is another water-tight space which provides the boat's self-righting capability.[3]

Designed and built by Green Marine, each boat is constructed of over 100 mm thick fibre reinforced composite topsides, single laminate double hull bottoms, 4 water-tight bulkheads and prepreg epoxy, glass and Kevlar shields.

The Trent has a service life of 25 years, although current estimates appear to exceed these original operational confines due to constant on-station maintenance, periodic refitting and sporadic repairs. In comparison with its predecessors, the boat has numerous additional advantages which aid in the overall success of every launch. One detail would be its condensed hull, which allows it to operate in significantly constrained locations (such as marina berths and dense quayside scenes).

Another aspect aiding in its confined manoeuvrability would be the bilge keels which aid in protecting its twin drive props. Its hull sheerline sweeps down into an area known as the 'welldeck', which helps ease the recovery of casualties onto the lifeboat. The remote location of an 'a-frame' hoist also provides additional assistance for particularly awkward recoveries (such as casualties in stretchers).

As of 2006, each Trent class lifeboat is complemented with an array of advanced technologies. Each device provides full assistance in search and rescue operations, and therefore must be of an officially high standard. The comprehensive electronics fit includes full radio equipment including Navtex Multi-Frequency, Marine Very High Frequency and DSC installations. For navigation the crew utilize an array of digital select systems including DGPS equipment, and an electronic Laserplot chart display and information system which allows complete automated management via the vessel's on-board processors (autohelm), although comparatively infrequent in practice.

Other features of Trent class lifeboats include VHF/DF, radar and weather sensors. Provisions for survivors include complete first aid equipment including the Basket and Neill Robertson stretchers, oxygen and Entonox breathing systems, ambulance pouch, thermodynamic food canisters and sick bags for ailing casualties. The Trents also have a small toilet arrangement. The afterdeck houses a salvage pump in a water-tight container for use in inter-vessel salvage, and two fire hoses allow proficient fire fighting. The Trent carries an inflatable XP-boat which is powered by a 5 hp outboard engine, and can be deployed in slight conditions to gain access to rocks or beaches when an inshore lifeboat is otherwise unavailable.

  • View from astern
  • Flying bridge

Fleet
ON[lower-alpha 1] Op. No.[lower-alpha 2] Name In service Principal Station MMSI Comments
1180 14-01 Earl and Countess Mountbatten of Burma 1994– 2019 Relief fleet 235096696 Withdrawn from fleet and now for sale.
1197 14-02 Esme Anderson 1994– Ramsgate 232001840
1198 14-03 Blue Peter VII 1994– Fishguard 232001860
1199 14-04 Roy Barker I 1995– Alderney 232001870
1200 14-05 Anna Livia 1995– Dun Laoghaire 232001880
1204 14-06 Windsor Runner (C.S. No. 42) 1995–2004
2004–		 Blyth
Relief fleet		 232001950
1205 14-07 Frederick Storey Cockburn 1995– Courtmacsherry Harbour 232001960
1206 14-08 Douglas Aikman Smith 1996– Invergordon 232001970 Due to be replaced by a Shannon class in 2020.
1207 14-09 Sir Ronald Petchell Bt. 1995–2008 Dunbar Damaged beyond repair March 2008[4]
1208 14-10 Samarbeta 1996– Great Yarmouth and Gorleston 232002340
1209 14-11 Barclaycard Crusader 1996–2019
2019-		 Eyemouth

Relief fleet

 232002350 Withdrawn to relief fleet January 2019, replaced by Shannon class
1210 14-12 Forward Birmingham 1996–2008
2008–		 Exmouth
Relief fleet[5]		 232002360
1211 14-13 George and Ivy Swanson 1996– Sheerness 232002180 Due to be replaced by a Shannon class in 2020.
1212 14-14 George and Mary Webb 1996– Whitby 232002370
1213 14-15 Henry Heys Duckworth 1996–2016
2016		 Relief fleet
Red Bay		 232002380 Two year evaluation
1214 14-16 Stanley Watson Barker 1996– Portree 232002390
1215 14-17 Elizabeth and Ronald 1996– Dunmore East 232002410
1222 14-18 Maurice and Joyce Hardy'’ 1996– Fowey 232002181
1223 14-19 Ger Tigchelaar 1997– Arklow 232002182
1224 14-20 Roy Barker II 1997– Wick 232002183
1225 14-21 MacQuarie 1997–2004
2004-		 Sunderland
Relief fleet		 232002582
1226 14-22 Edward Duke of Windsor 1997– Relief fleet 232002583
1227 14-23 Mora Edith MacDonald 1997– Oban 232002584
1228 14-24 Dora Foster McDougall 1997– Relief fleet 232002585
1233 14-25 Austin Lidbury 1998– Ballycotton 232003131
1234 14-26 Gough Ritchie II 1998– Port St Mary 232003132
1239 14-27 Robert Hywell Jones Williams 1999– Fenit 232003137
1240 14-28 Sam and Ada Moody 1999– Achill 232003138
1245 14-29 Inner Wheel II 2000–2006
2006-		 Relief Fleet
Barry Dock		 232004396
1246 14-30 Dr John McSparran 2000– Larne 232004397
1252 14-31 Elizabeth of Glamis 2001– Broughty Ferry 232004404
1253 14-32 Corinne Whiteley 2001– Relief fleet 232004405
1258 14-33 Roy Barker III 2002– Howth 235003642
1259 14-34 Willie & May Gall 2002– Fraserburgh 235005113
1266 14-35 John Neville Taylor 2002–2008
2008–		 Relief fleet
Dunbar[6]		 235005114
1267 14-36 Saxon 2003– Donaghadee 235007808
1274 14-37 Betty Huntbatch 2003– Hartlepool 235010879
1275 14-38 Jim Moffat 2004– Troon 235010881
  1. ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
  2. Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.

References
  1. Wake-Walker, Edward (2008). The Lifeboats Story. Stroud: Sutton Publishing. pp. 59–72. ISBN 978-0-7509-4858-6.
  2. Denton, Tony (2009). Handbook 2009. Shrewsbury: Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 32–35.
  3. Leach, Nicholas (2002). Fowey Lifeboats, an Illustrated History. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. p. 108. ISBN 0-7524-2378-9.
  4. Leach & Denton (2013). Lifeboat Directory. Preston: Ships In Focus Publications. p. 118. ISBN 978-1-901703-30-6.
  5. Salsbury, Alan (2010). A History of the Exmouth Lifeboats. pp. 129–140. ISBN 978-0-857040-73-2.
  6. Leach & Denton (2013). Lifeboat Directory. Preston: Ships In Focus Publications. p. 127. ISBN 978-1-901703-30-6.
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