# Tyne-class lifeboat

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The Tyne-class was superseded by the Tamar-class, which is 7 knots faster than the Tyne class.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 Shannon-class 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 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(ON 1158), went into service at Shoreham Harbour in September 1990 and served at that station until 2010 when she was withdrawn and sold, the only Tyne not to record over twenty years' service.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 Shannon-class lifeboat in 2017 after almost 34 years' service by Tyne-class boats, the longest of any station.
The last Tyne class boat in RNLI service was at Wicklow and this was withdrawn on 4 April 2019.
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

| ON | Op. No. | Name | In service | Principal Station | MMSI | Comments |
| 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 1993–1996 1996–2006 | Relief Fleet Walton and Frinton (Afloat) Relief Fleet | 413770292 | Sold to China 2007, now Hua Ying 389 |
| 1094 | 47-003 | James Burrough | 1984–2006 2006 | Padstow (Slipway) Relief fleet | | Sold to China 2007, now Hua Ying 387 |
| 1095 | 47-004 | St. Cybi II (Civil Service No.40) | 1985–1997 1997–2006 | Holyhead (Slipway) Relief fleet | | Sold to China 2007, now Hua Ying 386 |
| 1096 | 47-005 | Ethel Anne Measures | 1985–2006 2006–2007 | The Mumbles (Slipway) Relief fleet | | Sold to China 2007, now Hua Ying 385 |
| 1097 | 47-006 | Ruby and Arthur Reed | 1985–1996 1996–1999 1999–2007 2007–2008 | Cromer (Slipway) Relief fleet Cromer (Slipway) Relief fleet | | Sold to China 2008, now Hua Ying 382 |
| 1109 | 47-007 | City of Edinburgh | 1985–1997 1997–2002 2002–2008 | Fraserburgh (Slipway) Fraserburgh (Afloat) Relief fleet | 770576383 | Sold 2010. See ADES Uruguay below. |
| 1110 | 47-008 | Phil Mead | 1986–2006 2006–2008 | Teesmouth (Slipway) Relief fleet | | Sold to China 2008, now Hua Ying 384 |
| 1111 | 47-009 | William Luckin | 1986–2000 2000–2007 | Arranmore (Afloat) Lough Swilly (Afloat) | 412100300 | Sold to China 2008, now Hua Ying 383 |
| 1112 | 47-010 | RFA Sir Galahad | 1986–2006 2006–2008 2008–2009 2009 | Tenby (Slipway) Relief fleet Angle (Slipway) Relief fleet | 912322377 | Sold 2010. Renamed Sir Galahad. Workboat at Tallin, Estonia, September 2024. |
| 1114 | 47-011 | The Lady Rank | 1987–2008 2008–2011 | Angle (Slipway) Relief fleet | 770576384 | Sold 2011. See ADES Uruguay below. |
| 1115 | 47-012 | Good Shepherd | 1988–2000 2000–2001 2001–2010 | Relief fleet Lough Swilly (Afloat) Relief fleet | | Sold 2010. Renamed Carnarc. Pilot boat at North Longman Marina, Inverness, September 2023. |
| 1116 | 47-013 | Robert and Violet | 1988–2013 2013–2015 2015 | Moelfre (Slipway) Lough Swilly (Afloat) Relief fleet | 232002745 | Sold 2015. See Sri Lanka Lifeboat Institution below. |
| 1117 | 47-014 | James Bibby | 1986–2008 2008–2010 2010 2010–2011 | Barrow (Slipway) Relief fleet Shoreham Harbour (Slipway) Relief fleet | | Sold 2011. Renamed Pioneer. Aft Cabin removed, Workboat in Invergordon. Private ownership, Rothesay Dock, Clydebank, June 2023. |
| 1120 | 47-015 | Hetty Rampton | 1987–2012 2012–2015 | Porthdinllaen (Slipway) Relief fleet | 232002731 | Sold 2015. Renamed Inch Burn. Pilot Boat with Montrose Port Authority, November 2024. |
| 1121 | 47-016 | Norman Salvesen | 1988–1997 1998–2009 2009–2014 | Wick (Slipway) Sennen Cove (Slipway) Relief fleet | | Kept afloat from 1994. Sold June 2014. Unaltered, at Conwy Marina, September 2024 |
| 1122 | 47-017 | Owen and Ann Aisher | 1988–2012 | Relief fleet | | Sold 2013. Renamed MVS Prince George V104. Pilot Boat with Montrose Port Authority. Damaged 2016, subsequently stripped of spares. Sold to Mains Farm Wigwams of Stirling, May 2023. Used as a Glamping Pod, June 2024. |
| 1126 | 47-018 | Max Aitken III | 1987–2009 2009–2014 | Bembridge (Slipway) Relief fleet | 232003197 | Sold June 2014. Renamed Sir Max Aitken III. See Jersey Lifeboat Association (Independent) below. |
| 1127 | 47-019 | Babs and Agnes Robertson | 1988–2006 2006–2013 | Peterhead (Slipway) The Mumbles (Slipway) | | Kept afloat from 1998. Sold 2014. Renamed FVC-1. Unaltered, at Riverside Marina, River Hamble, September 2024 |
| 1130 | 47-022 | The Baltic Exchange II | 1988–2008 2008–2009 | Salcombe (Afloat) Relief fleet | | Sold 2010. Renamed PB Fortune. See Seychelles Coast Guard below. |
| 1131 | 47-023 | City of Sheffield | 1988–1996 1996–1997 1997–2000 2000–2001 2001–2016 | Whitby (Afloat) Relief fleet Hartlepool (Afloat) Relief fleet Poole (Afloat) | | On display at the National Emergency Services Museum, Sheffield |
| 1132 | 47-020 | Spirit of Lowestoft | 1987–2014 2014–2018 | Lowestoft (Afloat) Relief fleet | | To RNLI Museum, Chatham Dockyard, 19 June 2019 |
| 1133 | 47-021 | The Famous Grouse | 1987–2004 2004–2010 2010–2012 | Relief fleet Kilmore Quay (Afloat) Relief fleet | 316028835 | Sold May 2013. Renamed Fraser Lifeboat 1A-04. See Canadian Lifeboat Institution below. |
| 1137 | 47-024 | Hilda Jarrett | 1988–2012 2012–2015 | Baltimore (Slipway) Relief fleet | 232002581 | Sold 2015. Renamed North Esk, Pilot Boat with Montrose Port Authority. Sold March 2023, Renamed Ascension. Pilot Boat, Stornoway Port, November 2024. |
| 1138 | 47-025 | Lord Saltoun | 1988–1999 1999–2012 | Longhope (Slipway) Relief fleet | | Sold October 2012. Renamed Norma-G. Work boat with D. Ferran and Sons, Belfast Northern Ireland. On harbour wall at Carrickfergus, December 2021. |
| 1139 | 47-026 | Garside | 1988–2013 2013–2016 2016–2018 | St Davids (Slipway) St Davids No.2 (Afloat) Relief fleet | 232015993 | Retained on station alongside Tamar-class lifeboat until completion of new boathouse in Oct 2016. Sold 2018. Renamed Triton. Workboat and crew transfer, Falmouth Docks, October 2024. |
| 1140 | 47-027 | George Gibson | 1988–2010 2010–2011 | Appledore (Afloat) Relief fleet | 232008820 | Sold January 2013. Renamed The John Faulding (SGI-007). Construction safety boat for Specialist Group International at Portishead Marina, April 2024 |
| 1141 | 47-028 | Sir John Fisher | 1989–1992 1992–2017 | Relief fleet Workington (Davit) | | Sold 2018. Renamed Eala. Private Ownership, Troon, May 2022. |
| 1142 | 47-029 | Mariners Friend | 1989–2007 2007–2012 2012–2013 | Relief Fleet Lough Swilly (Afloat) Relief fleet | | Sold June 2014. Renamed Suilbhir Giomach (Jolly Lobster). Dive/Workboat at Loch Scridain (summer) and Dunstaffnage Marina (winter), September 2024. |
| 1145 | 47-030 | David Robinson | 1988–2011 2011–2016 | The Lizard (Slipway) Relief fleet | | Sold 2017. Renamed Diligence J. Crew transfer boat for Togo Oil and Marine, at Lomé, Togo, West Africa, October 2018. |
| 1146 | 47-031 | Voluntary Worker | 1988–1990 1990–2005 2005–2017 | Lytham St Annes (Afloat) Relief fleet Selsey (Slipway) | | Sold 2017. Floating display with Helical Technology, Lytham, Lancs. Lytham Motive Power (Private) Museum (no public access), June 2024. |
| 1147 | 47-032 | Sir William Hillary | 1988–2018 | Douglas (Slipway) | | Sold 2020. Renamed Sir William. Private Ownership at Portishead Marina, June 2024. |
| 1151 | 47-033 | Mary Irene Millar | 1989–2011 2011–2013 | Portpatrick (Afloat) Relief fleet | | Sold December 2013. Private ownership, at Mayflower Marina, Plymouth, May 2024. |
| 1152 | 47-034 | Moonbeam | 1989–2015 2015–2016 | Montrose (Afloat) Relief fleet | | Sold November 2016. Private Ownership at Salcombe, December 2023 |
| 1153 | 47-035 | Annie Blaker | 1989–2019 | Wicklow (Slipway) | 232003199 | Last Tyne class boat on station Sold 2020. Operating with Guernsey Boat Charter at St Peter Port, May 2024. |
| 1154 | 47-036 | Kenneth Thelwall II | 1990–1994 1996–2011 | Ramsgate (Afloat) Walton and Frinton (Afloat) | | Sold September 2011. Renamed Ocean Lad. Crew/Pilot boat for Atlantic Towage, West End, Bere Island, Co. Cork, Ireland, December 2023. |
| 1155 | 47-037 | Sarah Emily Harrop | 1990–1998 1998–2007 2007–2010 2010 2010 | Lytham St Annes (Afloat) Relief fleet Calshot (Afloat) Relief fleet Shoreham Harbour (Slipway) | 250002783 | Sold October 2010. Renamed Ocean Lass. Ferry/Pilot boat, Bere Island Ferries, Co, Cork Ireland, September 2023. |
| 1156 | 47-038 | William Street | 1989–2016 | Fleetwood (Afloat) | 232006029 | Sold 2016. Renamed Amelia. Jun 2023, NHS Ferry Charter operated by Seafaris Adventures (Skye) from Mallaig. Private Ownership, Skye, October 2024. |
| 1157 | 47-039 | Alexander Coutanche | 1989–2009 2009–2010 2010–2012 2012–2013 2013–2014 | St Helier (Afloat) Relief fleet Calshot (Afloat) Lough Swilly (Afloat) Relief fleet | 232002580 | Sold 2015. Renamed Euan D. Pilot/Work boat with JD Marine operating from Swansea, November 2024. |
| 1158 | 47-040 | Hermione Lady Colwyn | 1990–2010 | Shoreham Harbour (Slipway) | | Sold 2010. Renamed Odin Nautical, with Aegir Nautical, Lymington. Workboat at East Cowes, IOW, possibly now sold to Germany, April 2019 |
* ↑ ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
* ↑ Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.

### China

| RNLI ON | Name | In Service | Station | MMSI | Comments |
| 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– | Guangzhou | 412100300 | Last Seen 17 July 2021 Haikou |

### Uruguay

Operated by ADES Uruguay
| RNLI ON | Name | In Service | Station | MMSI | Comments |
| 1109 | ADES 19 Centenario | 2010–2023 | Puerto de Colonia | 770576383 | Oct 2023, Retired from Service. Sold 2024. Workboat with CG Traficos SRL in Nueva Palmira, Uruguay, December 2024 |
| 1114 | ADES 20 Bicentenary | 2011–2023 | Puerto del Buceo | 770576384 | Oct 2023, Retired from Service. For sale, December 2024 |

### Sri Lanka

Operated by the Sri Lankan Lifeboat Institution
| RNLI ON | Name | In Service | Station | MMSI | Comments |
| 1116 | Puffin XII | 2015–2020 | Colombo | | Last seen in service, MMSI, 18 February 2020. Reported sold from service, with Master Divers (Pvt) Ltd, Sri Lanka. |

### Jersey

Operated by the Jersey Lifeboat Association
| RNLI ON | Name | In Service | Station | MMSI | Comments |
| 1126 | Sir Max Aitken III | 2019–2021 2023– | 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. |

### Seychelles

Operated by the Seychelles Coast Guard
| RNLI ON | Name | In Service | Station | Comments |
| 1130 | PB Fortune | 2010– | Mahe Plateau | Still in service, January 2024 |

### Canada

Operated by the Canadian Lifeboat Institution
| RNLI ON | Name | In Service | Station | MMSI | Comments |
| 1133 | Fraser Lifeboat 1A-04 | 2013– | Steveston, Richmond, BC | 316028835 | |