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Waveney-class lifeboat

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Larne Lifeboat RNLB William and Jane (ON 1079) in October 1997
Class overview
Builders
Operators Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Preceded byRother, Solent
Succeeded byArun
Built1964–1982
In service1964–1999
Completed22
Retired22
Preserved1
General characteristics
Typemotor lifeboat
Displacement18–19 tons
Length44 ft 10 in (13.67 m)
Beam12 ft 8 in (3.86 m)
Draught4 ft 2 in (1.27 m)
PropulsionTwo diesel engines (various models)
Speed15.4 knots (17.7 mph)
Range190 nautical miles (350 km)
Crew5

The Waveney-class lifeboat was the first class of lifeboats operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) capable of operating at speeds in excess of 10 knots (12 mph).[1] Based on an American design, 22 saw operational service between 1964 and 1999 at the RNLI's stations around the coast of the United Kingdom and Ireland. After being superseded by faster boats in the 1990s, many were sold for further use with lifeboat services abroad, notably in Australia and New Zealand.

The class name comes from the River Waveney which discharges into the North Sea at Great Yarmouth.

History

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In the 1960s the RNLI's fleet consisted of motor lifeboats of limited speed due to the shape of their hulls. The United States Coast Guard (USCG) had developed a 44-foot motor lifeboat which planed across the surface of the water, the consequence of which is a reduced wetted surface area to the hull, and therefore a much higher speed.[2] One was built for the RNLI by the USCG in Curtis Bay Coast Guard Yard, Maryland,[3] and this was put through extensive trials and proved capable of operating in restricted spaces, even though the propellers lacked the usual protection afforded to lifeboats.[2]

The prototype was never given a name although the crews nicknamed it "The Yank".[2] It entered trials in 1964 but the first production boats did not start to emerge until 1967. After six had been placed in service there was a hiatus which lasted until 1974 when production was restarted, and then continued through until 1982 by which time 22 were in service. The entire fleet was replaced between 1996 and 1999 as new Trent and Severn lifeboats came into service, but many were sold for further use as lifeboats or pilot boats.[4]

The boats launched in 1967 and 1968 were built by Brooke Marine at Lowestoft and those in 1974/5 by Groves and Gutteridge in Cowes. The 1976/7 batch came from Bideford Ship Yard and the last three from Fairey Marine in Cowes.[3]

Two 50-foot (15 m) long versions were built as the first of a proposed fleet of Thames-class lifeboats but the class was cancelled in favour of an Arun class with a different hull shape and improved crew facilities.[2]

Description

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A Waveney-class lifeboat floating on its moorings.
The Waveney-class lifeboat at Dunmore East lifeboat was kept on a mooring.

The steel hull is 44 feet 10 inches (13.67 m) long and 12 feet 8 inches (3.86 m) wide, drawing 4 feet 2 inches (1.27 m) of water. The hull is divided into seven watertight compartments including two survivor compartments and a crew space. The coxswain operates the boat from an open wheelhouse. Powered by a pair of diesel engines, it has an operating radius of 95 nautical miles (176 km).[1]

The prototype was built with twin 200 brake horsepower (150 kW) Cummins V-6 engines but in 1973 was upgraded to 250 bhp (190 kW) Ford Mermaid 595T 6-cylinder engines. The first batch of production boats were initially built with pairs of 215 bhp (160 kW) Cummins V-6 engines. All these, including the by then re-engined prototype were fitted in the early 1980s with 203 bhp (151 kW) Caterpillar D3208 V-8 engines. The Groves & Guttridge built boats of 1974/5 had more powerful 260 bhp (190 kW) General Motors V-8 engines which they retained throughout their service life. The four boats of the 1976/7 Bideford Ship Yard build were originally fitted with 250 bhp Ford Mermaid 595T 6-cylinder engines but these were changed within five years for 250 bhp Caterpillar D3208T V-8 engines as had by then been fitted to the three final boats.[3]

RNLI fleet

[edit]
ON[a] Op. No.[b] Name Built In service Principal Stations[5] Comments[4][6]
44-001 1964 1964–1996 Falmouth[7] Preserved at Chatham Historic Dockyard
1001 44-002 John F. Kennedy 1966 1967–1990
1990-1996
Dun Laoghaire
Relief fleet
Sold 1996.
Renamed Sarah JFK.
Oct 2019, Renamed Fortitude, Charter Boat, Lagos, Nigeria.
1002 44-003 Khami 1967 1967–1980
1980–1990
1990
1990–1997
Great Yarmouth and Gorleston
Relief fleet
Ramsgate
Relief fleet
Sold 1999 to RVCP Australia
1003 44-004 Faithful Forrester 1967 1967–1979
1979–1984
1984–1985
1985-1997
Dover
Relief fleet
Holyhead
Relief fleet
Sold 1999 to RVCP Australia
1004 44-005 Margaret Graham 1967 1967–1980
1980–1986
1986–1999
Harwich
Relief fleet
Amble
Sold 1999.
Renamed St Hilda of Whitby. December 2021, Unaltered Pilot boat at Whitby
1005 44-006 Arthur and Blanche Harris 1968 1968–1974
1974–1979
1979–1985
1985–1993
1993–1995
1995–1996
Barry Dock
Relief fleet
Donaghadee
Relief fleet
Courtmacsherry Harbour
Relief fleet
Sold 1999 to RVCP Australia
1006 44-007 Connel Elizabeth Cargill 1967 1968–1985
1986–1990
1990–1991
1991
1991–1997
Troon
Arklow
Relief fleet
Portree
Relief fleet
Sold 1999 to RVCP Australia
1026 44-008 Eric Seal
(Civil Service No. 36)
1974 1974–1996 Eyemouth Sold 1999 to Sea Rescue Institute, Namibia
1027 44-009 Helen Turnbull 1974 1974–1996
1996–1997
1997
Sheerness
Achill Island
Relief fleet
Sold 1999.
Renamed Badger, pleasure boat, Douglas.
February 2019, Renamed Sturm, pleasure boat, Bowling Basin, West Dunbartonshire.
1028 44-010 Thomas Forehead and Mary Rowse II 1974 1974–1987
1987–1996
1996–1997
Plymouth
Fowey[8]
Relief fleet
Sold 1999 to New Zealand
1029 44-011 Augustine Courtauld 1974 1974–1983
1983–1985
1985–1987
1987–1988
1988–1990
1990–1997
Poole
Relief fleet
Troon
Plymouth
Relief fleet
Arklow
Sold 1999 to RVCP Australia
1033 44-012 The White Rose of Yorkshire 1974 1974–1988
1988–1996
1996–1997
Whitby
Invergordon
Relief fleet
Sold 1999 to Canada
1034 44-013 Thomas James King 1975 1975–1989
1989–1993
1993–1995
1995–1997
St Helier
Relief fleet
Dunbar
Relief fleet
Sold 1998.
Renamed Northesk, Pilot boat Montrose.
April 2022, Renamed Ledra Express, Workboat, Ledra Ena Shipping, Limassol, Cyprus[5]
1035 44-014 St Patrick 1975 1975–1996 Dunmore East Sold 1999 to RVCP Australia
1036 44-015 Lady of Lancashire 1975 1976–1989
1990–1995
1995–1996
Fleetwood
Dun Laoghaire
Relief fleet
Sold 1996.
Renamed St Boisil, Pilot boat Berwick-on-Tweed.
August 2022, Private Ownership, Berwick-on-Tweed
1042 44-016 Ralph and Joy Swann 1976 1976–1990
1990–1991
1991–1996
1996–1997
1997–1998
Ramsgate
Tobermory
Portree
Relief fleet
Achill Island
Sold 1998.
Trip boat West Swann at Port Howard, West Falklands
1043 44-017 The Nelsons of Donaghadee
Wavy Line
1976 1976–1978
1978–1990
1990–1997
Donaghadee
Relief fleet
Sunderland
Sold 1997 to New Zealand
1044 44-018 The Scout 1977 1977–1997 Hartlepool Sold 1997 to ADES Uruguay
1045 44-019 Louis Marchesi of Round Table 1977 1977–1985
1985–1986
1986–1994
1994–1996
1996–1997
Newhaven
Relief fleet
Alderney
Exmouth[9]
Relief fleet
Sold 1999 to New Zealand
1060 44-020 John Fison 1980 1980–1996
1996–1999
Harwich
Relief fleet
Sold 1999 to New Zealand
1065 44-021 Barham 1980 1980–1996
1996–1999
Great Yarmouth and Gorleston
Relief fleet
Sold 1999 to New Zealand.
1079 44-022 The William and Jane 1982 1982–1995
1996–1999
Blyth
Larne
Sold 1999 to New Zealand.
  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.

Other fleets

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Australia

[edit]

RVCP Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol was formed in 1937. In 2008 it amalgamated with Australian Volunteer Coast Guard and Volunteer Rescue Association to form Marine Rescue New South Wales.

RNLI ON Name[4] Sold Station Comments[6]
1002 P&O Nedlloyd Stratheden 1999– Brighton le Sands Sold before 2012.
Renamed Khami, Private Ownership, Esperence, Western Australia
2014, Yacht Club Rescue Vessel, Beauty Point, Tasmania, Australia. Restored to RNLI Livery.
1003 P&O Nedlloyd Strathmore 1999–2011 Narooma Sold 2011.
Renamed Harbour Conquest, Crew transfer and utility vessel, with Harbour Services Australia, Freemantle.
2019, Private Ownership, Claremont, Western Australia
1005 P&O Nedlloyd Strathallan 1999–2007
2007–2009
Ulladulla
Broken Bay
Sold 2009.
Renamed Harbour Crusader, Crew transfer and utility vessel with Harbour Services Australia, Freemantle.
Scrapped 2019
1006 P&O Nedlloyd Rawalpindi 1999– Mosman Sold before 2013.
Workboat/houseboat, Brisbane River, Queensland, Australia
1029 P&O Nedlloyd Strathaird 1999–2002
2002–2011
Broken Bay, Trial Bay Sold 2011.
Renamed Augustine Courtauld, Work boat for Melbourne Charter Services P/L, Melbourne. Restored to RNLI Livery
1035 P&O Nedlloyd Strathnaver 1999–2009 Batemans Bay Sold 2009.
Renamed St. Patrick Strathnaver. Private Ownership, Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, Australia.
2022, Private Ownership, Somerville, Victoria, Australia, under restoration.

New Zealand

[edit]

The Royal New Zealand Coastguard Federation, now Royal New Zealand Coastguard is the primary civilian marine search and rescue organisation for New Zealand. Unlike a number of other countries, the organisation is a non-governmental, civilian charitable organisation, with no enforcement powers.

RNLI ON Name[4] In Service Station Comments[6]
1028 Westgate Rescue
(Taranaki Volunteer Coastguard)
2000–2012 Port Taranaki Sold 2012.
Renamed Harrier.
2015, Private Ownership, Bluff, New Zealand
1043 Nicholsons Rescue/Trust Porinua Rescue
(Mana Volunteer Coastguard)
1998–2010 Mana Island Sold 2010.
Renamed Toucan,
Sold 2015, Workboat, Lyttelton, New Zealand
2021, Workboat, Wanganui, New Zealand
1045 P&O Nedlloyd Rescue
(Waiheke Volunteer Coastguard)
1999–2006 Waiheke Island Sold 2006.
Private Ownership, Whangārei,
2010 Private Ownership, Auckland
1060 Hamilton Rotary Rescue
(Raglan Volunteer Coastguard)
1999–2005 Raglan Sold 2006.
Renamed Harbour Cruiser, Crew transfer and utility vessel, Harbour Services, Freemantle, Australia
1065 Barham
(Hawkes Bay Volunteer Coastguard)
2000–2003 Napier Sold 2003.
Renamed Legend, Private Ownership, Auckland.
2008, Private Ownership, Seaview Marina, Wellington Harbor, New Zealand
1079 John Barton Acland Rescue
(Kaikoura Volunteer Coastguard)
1999–2005 Kaikōura Sold 2005.
Renamed Gryphon, 2020, Newport, Oregon, USA

Other Rescue Services

[edit]
RNLI ON Name[4] In Service Station Comments[6]
1026 Spirit of Standard Bank
(Sea Rescue Institute of Namibia)
1999–2005
2005–2022
Walvis Bay
Lüderitz
No longer in service. November 2022, On hardstanding at Lüderitz
1033 1a 001
The White Rose of Yorkshire (Canadian Lifeboat Institution)
1999–2008 Roberts Bank, Vancouver, Canada Sold 2008.
December 2022, Private Ownership, Ladner, British Columbia
1044 ADES 16 Montemar (14-016)
(ADES Uruguay)
1997–2012 Puerto del Buceo, Uruguay Sold 2015.
December 2022, Workboat, Puerto del Buceo

References

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  1. ^ a b Wake-Walker, Edward; Deane, Heather; Purches, Georgette (1989). Lifeboat! Royal National Lifeboat Institution. Shepperton: Ian Allan. p. 41. ISBN 0-7110-1835-9.
  2. ^ a b c d Kipling, Ray; Kipling, Susannah (2006). Never Turn Back. Stroud: Sutton Publishing. pp. 83–85. ISBN 0-7509-4307-6.
  3. ^ a b c Lawford, Clive. "RNLI (Waveney Class)". Clive Lawford. Retrieved 20 December 2010.
  4. ^ a b c d e Denton, Tony (2009). Handbook 2009. Shrewsbury: Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 26–29.
  5. ^ a b Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2023). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2023. Lifeboats Enthusiasts Society.
  6. ^ a b c d "44ft Motor Lifeboats". 44ft Motor Lifeboats. Clive Lawford. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
  7. ^ Morris, Jeff (2002). The History of the Falmouth Lifeboats (2nd ed.). Coventry: Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 18–19.
  8. ^ Leach, Nicholas (2002). Fowey Lifeboats. Stroud: Tempus Publishing. pp. 75–93. ISBN 0-7524-2378-9.
  9. ^ Salsbury, Alan (2010). A History of the Exmouth Lifeboats. Wellington, Somerset: Halsgrove. pp. 121–128. ISBN 978-0-85704-073-2.

See also

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