Arun-class lifeboat
![]() Arun-class lifeboat
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Class overview | |
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Builders |
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Operators | ![]() |
Preceded by | Waveney |
Succeeded by | Severn |
Cost | £128,000 (52-01) – £640,000 (52-46) |
Built | 1971–1990 |
In service | 1971–2008 |
Completed | 46 |
Retired | 46 |
Preserved | 1 |
General characteristics | |
Type | Lifeboat |
Displacement | 32 long tons (33 t) |
Length | 52 or 54 ft (16 or 16 m) |
Beam | 17 ft (5.2 m) |
Draught | 5 ft (1.5 m) |
Propulsion |
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Speed | 18.5 knots (34.3 km/h; 21.3 mph) |
Range | 250 nmi (460 km; 290 mi) |
Complement | 6 |
The Arun-class lifeboat was a fast all-weather lifeboat designed by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) for service at its stations around the coasts of the United Kingdom and Ireland. They were operated by the RNLI between 1971 and 2008. Many have been sold to see further service in the lifeboat and coastguard services of other countries.
The class takes its name from the River Arun in Sussex, England.
History[]
The RNLI's first lifeboat capable of speeds in excess of 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) was the 14-knot (26 km/h; 16 mph) Waveney-class boats introduced in 1967. This was based on an American design, but in 1971 it was supplemented by the Arun class which was designed by the RNLI and gave vastly improved accommodation and increased the speed to 18.5 knots (34.3 km/h; 21.3 mph).[1]
The first prototype boat entered service at St Peter Port in 1972 but moved on to Barry Dock where it was stationed until 1997. Two more boats were introduced in 1973 and 1974 and then full production started in 1975 although small numbers of Waveney-class boats were still built until 1982. By 1990, 46 Arun-class boats had been launched. The following year saw the launch of the first 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph) Severn- and Trent-class boats.[2]
The three prototype boats were withdrawn between 1994 and 1997, the third of which then went on display at the National Lifeboat Museum. The production series boats were taken out of regular service between 1998 and 2007. While a few have found new uses around the coast of Great Britain, the majority have been sold to other lifeboat operators around the world, predominantly in China, Finland and Iceland[2] and some further boats were built new for service in Canada and Greece.[3] Those travelling long distances go as deck cargo on larger ships but those going to closer harbours are generally sailed across under their own power. The first boat to go to Iceland, Richard Evans, was loaded as deck cargo on a container ship but was washed overboard during the passage – the only Arun to have been lost at sea.[4]
Design[]
The design was developed for the RNLI by J.A. MacLachlan working for naval architects G.L. Watson of Glasgow. Initially proposed with chines along the hull to disperse the spray and improve stability when underway at speed, this caused a high deck above water which proved difficult when trying to get people aboard from the water, so the chines were dispensed with on the second boat and the deck curved down nearer the water.[5] The first three boats were built with wooden hulls[6] and were respectively 51 feet 7 inches (15.72 m), 52 feet (16 m) and 54 feet (16 m) long, the extra length due to a rounded transom. All differed in superstructure design, 52-01 having a raked back superstructure front with the flying bridge at the after end. 52-02 introduced forward raked wheelhouse windscreens, had a unique wheelhouse side window pattern and retained the aft mounted flying bridge. On 52-03, the flying bridge was moved to the forward end of the wheelhouse, the front of which was rounded. From 54-04, the forward flying bridge was standardised and the forward raked wheelhouse windscreens were reintroduced. The side windows were recessed from the superstructure sides. 54-04 had a Glass Reinforce Plastic hull and this was standardised for future boats. 54-04 to 54-07 retained the rounded transon but from 52-08 a square transom was reintroduced. The final external change came with 52-11 which had flush sided forward wheelhouse windows and this was a feature of all subsequent boats. In 1986 52-030 (ON 1100) became the only steel-hulled Arun. It was regarded as the best of the class for seakeeping, although the slowest.[citation needed] The GRP hulls were moulded in blue material in the outer skin. After a while it was found that water was accumulating in the fibreglass which added up to two tons to the weight. The boats had the coloured layer stripped off and replaced by a new one made with clear gel which reduced the amount of water absorbed.[5]
The large watertight cabin gave it self-righting capability. Two survivor cabins are situated below decks where first aid and emergency equipment is stowed. The hull is divided into 26 watertight compartments as protection against sinking should it be holed. There is also a flying bridge above the main cabin with an auxiliary steering position which can be used when additional height or visibility is required during an operation. The boat won a Design Council award in 1982.[6]
Two Caterpillar D343 460 hp (340 kW) diesel engines were fitted to boats up 52-14, subsequent boats being fitted with two Caterpillar 3408TA 485 hp (362 kW) . Fuel tanks have 620-imperial-gallon (2,800 l; 740 US gal) capacity which gives an operating range of 250 nautical miles (460 km; 290 mi).[6]
RNLI fleet[]
ON[a] | Op. No.[b] | Name | Built | In service | Principal stations | Further use |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1018 | 52-01 | Arun | 1971 | 1974–1997 | Barry Dock | Renamed Arun Adventurer. In commercial use at Dundee then in 2020-2021 as a pleasure boat in The Netherlands[citation needed] |
1025 | 52-02 | Sir William Arnold | 1973 | 1973–1997 | St Peter Port | Pleasure boat at Cork |
1037 | 54-03 | Edward Bridges (C.S. No. 37) | 1974 | 1975–1994 | Torbay | Preserved at Chatham Historic Dockyard |
1049 | 54-04 | Tony Vandervell | 1976 | 1975–1999 | Weymouth | Sold to SMPS Finland SAR 1999 as Mac Elliot and based at Porkkala. Sold to Russia in November 2013 for SAR operations in Kronstadt. Modernized in 2014 and renamed as Barracuda. |
1050 | 54-05 | B.P. Forties | 1975 | 1975–1998 | Aberdeen | Iceland |
1051 | 54-06 | The Gough Ritchie | 1976 | 1976–1998 | Chile image here | |
1052 | 54-07 | City of Bradford IV | 1976 | 1977–1987 1991–1998 |
Humber |
Ship's tender in Sweden |
1053 | 52-08 | Joy and John Wade | 1977 | 1977–2001 | Yarmouth | Iceland |
1056 | 52-09 | Spirit of Tayside | 1978 | 1978–1999 | Australia | |
1057 | 52-10 | Soldian | 1978 | 1978–1997 1998–1999 1999–2001 |
Achill Island Relief fleet |
Iceland |
1058 | 52-11 | Elizabeth Ann | 1979 | 1979–2001 | Falmouth | Australia |
1059 | 52-12 | Walter and Margaret Couper | 1979 | 1979–2001 | Sold to SMPS Finland in 2001 Arvin Silma/ Russaro and based at Hanko from June 2002. Sold to Russia in November 2013 for SAR operations in Kronstadt. Modernized in 2014 and renamed as Murena. | |
1061 | 52-13 | George and Olive Turner | 1980 | 1980–2000 | Iceland | |
1062 | 52-14 | Edith Emilie | 1980 | 1980–1999 | Pilot boat at Montrose | |
1067 | 52-15 | Hyman Winstone | 1980 | 1980–1985 1985–1998 1998–2002 |
Relief fleet Relief fleet |
Madeira |
1070 | 52-16 | Richard Evans (C.S. No. 39) | 1981 | 1981–2000 2000–2003 |
Relief fleet |
Sold to Iceland but wrecked during delivery. |
1071 | 52-17 | Sir Max Aitken | 1981 | 1981–2001 | Trip boat on the River Crouch | |
1073 | 52-18 | Robert Edgar | 1981 | 1981–1997 1997–2002 |
St Mary's Relief fleet |
Pleasure boat in New Zealand |
1076 | 52-19 | Marie Winstone | 1981 | 1981–1994 1995–2002 |
Fishguard Torbay |
Finland |
1077 | 52-20 | Duchess of Kent | 1982 | 1982–2002 | Madeira (Portugal) lifeboat of SANAS Madeira, renamed Salvador do Mar | |
1078 | 52-21 | The Davina and Charles Matthew Hunter | 1982 | 1982–2001 2001–2003 |
Relief fleet |
Iceland |
1081 | 52-22 | Ralph and Bonella Farrant | 1982 | 1982–1994 1994–1999 1999–2003 |
Relief fleet Relief fleet |
China |
1082 | 52-23 | Margaret Frances Love | 1982 | 1983–1996 1997–2003 |
Valentia Barry Dock |
China |
1085 | 52-24 | Mabel Alice | 1982 | 1983–2003 | Penlee | Trip boat at Portishead |
1086 | 52-25 | A.J.R. & L.G. Uridge | 1983 | 1983–2003 | Relief Fleet | Finland |
1092 | 52-26 | St Brendan | 1984 | 1984–2001 | Fishing boat at Holyhead | |
1093 | 52-27 | Charles Brown | 1984 | 1984–2005 | China | |
1098 | 52-28 | Sir Max Aitken II | 1984 | 1984–1999 1999–2004 2004–2005 |
Relief fleet |
China |
1099 | 52-29 | The Joseph Rothwell Sykes and Hilda M | 1984 | 1984–1998 1998–2002 |
Relief fleet |
Finland |
1100 | 52-030 | Snolda | 1986 | 1986–1998 1998–2007 |
Relief fleet |
Iceland |
1103 | 52-31 | Newsbuoy | 1984 | 1984–2004 | Faroe Islands | |
1106 | 52-32 | Keith Anderson | 1985 | 1985–1999 1999–2003 |
Newhaven Relief fleet |
China |
1107 | 52-33 | City of Belfast | 1985 | 1985–2003 | China | |
1108 | 52-34 | Margaret Russell Fraser | 1984 | 1986–2002 2002–2004 |
Relief Fleet Calshot |
Iceland |
1113 | 52-35 | City of Dublin | 1986 | 1986–2003 | Iceland | |
1118 | 52-36 | Roy and Barbara Harding | 1987 | 1987–1997 1997–2004 |
Iceland | |
1123 | 52-37 | Kenneth Thelwall | 1987 | 1987–1997 1997–2003 2003–2004 |
Humber Holyhead Relief fleet |
China |
1134 | 52-38 | City of Glasgow III | 1987 | 1987–2005 | Iceland | |
1135 | 52-39 | Mickie Salvensen | 1988 | 1988–1998 1998–2000 2000–2003 2003-2006 |
Aberdeen Relief fleet Barry Dock |
Iceland |
1136 | 52-40 | City of Plymouth | 1987 | 1988–2004 | Plymouth | Iceland |
1143 | 52-41 | Ann Lewis Fraser | 1988 | 1988–1998 1998–2003 2003–2004 |
Relief fleet |
China |
1144 | 52-42 | Murray Lornie | 1988 | 1989–2005 | Iceland | |
1149 | 52-43 | The Queen Mother | 1989 | 1989–2009 | Sold to the Montevideo Pilot Association, Uruguay as Ederra 4[7] | |
1150 | 52-44 | Hibernia | 1989 | 1989–2007 | China | |
1159 | 52-45 | Mabel Williams | 1990 | 1990–1998 1998–2007 |
Relief fleet |
China |
1160 | 52-46 | Duke of Atholl | 1990 | 1990–1999 1999-1999 1999-2003 2003-2004 2004-2008 |
Relief Fleet Weymouth unknown Hartlepool Relief Fleet |
Iceland |
Other fleets[]
Australia[]
Name | RNLI ON | Built | Sold | Station[2] |
---|---|---|---|---|
P V Danial Thain | 1056 | 1978 | 1999 | Port Stephens, New South Wales |
P&O Nedlloyd Encounter | 1058 | 1979 | 2002 | Ulladulla, New South Wales |
Canada[]
Ten 15.77-metre (51.7 ft) boats were built for the Canadian Coast Guard.[3] They were all built in Canada by Industrie Raymond Ltée of Sept-Iles, Quebec; East Isle Shipyard Ltd. of Georgetown, Prince Edward Island; Hike Metals & Shipbuilbing Ltd. of Wheatley, Ontario, with aluminium hulls except for the GRP-hulled British-built prototype (CCGS Bickerton) which was built by Halmatic, Southampton.[citation needed] They are considered "high endurance" lifeboats staffed by a crew of four. The first vessels of this class were ordered in 1990.[8] The Canadian Coast Guard also maintains approximately three dozen smaller Cape-class motor lifeboats.[9] They are considered "medium endurance" lifeboats.
Name | Built | Sold | Station |
---|---|---|---|
1989 | Bickerton East, Nova Scotia | ||
1996 | Cap-aux-Meules, Iles de la Madeleine, Quebec | ||
CCGS Clarks Harbour | 1996 | West Head, Nova Scotia | |
1994 | Saint John, New Brunswick | ||
CCGS Sambro | 1996 | Sambro, Nova Scotia | |
1992 | Louisbourg, Nova Scotia | ||
1994 | Dartmouth, Nova Scotia | ||
1994 | Burgeo, Newfoundland and Labrador | ||
1994 | Burin, Newfoundland and Labrador | ||
CCGS Westport | 1997 | Westport, Nova Scotia |
Chile[]
Name | RNLI ON | Built | Sold | Station | Comments[2] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Capitan Eduardo Simpson Roth | 1051 | 1976 | 1998 | Valparaíso | 54 ft (16 m) boat |
China[]
Name | RNLI ON | Built | Sold | Station[2] |
---|---|---|---|---|
Huaying 390 | 1150 | 1989 | 2007 | Waigaoqiao |
Huaying 391 | 1159 | 1990 | 2007 | Donghai |
Huaying 392 | 1143 | 1988 | 2006 | Shantou |
Huaying 393 | 1081 | 1982 | 2004 | Fuzhou |
Huaying 394 | 1107 | 1985 | 2004 | Dalian |
Huaying 395 | 1106 | 1985 | 2004 | Dalian |
Huaying 396 | 1093 | 1984 | 2005 | Shenzen |
Huaying 397 | 1098 | 1984 | 2005 | Zhangjiang |
Huaying 398 | 1082 | 1982 | 2004 | Donghai, Shanghai |
Huaying 399 | 1123 | 1987 | 2004 | Wenzhou, Zhejiang |
Faroe Islands[]
Name | RNLI ON | Built | Sold | Station[2] |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ziska | 1103 | 1984 | 2005 | Klaksvik, Faroe Islands |
Comment : Kept in same condition and used for SAR operations, covering all of the Faroe islands.
Finland[]
Name | RNLI ON | Built | Sold | Station | Comments[2] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hebe | 1086 | 1983 | 2003 | Kemi | Relocated in Hanko |
Janne Malén | 1099 | 1984 | 2002 | Uusikaupunki | |
Mac Elliot | 1049 | 1975 | 1999 | Porkkala (1999-2008), Porvoo (2008-2013) | 54 ft (16 m) boat, sold to Kronstadt,Russia |
Russarö | 1059 | 1979 | 2001 | sold to Kronstadt,Russia | |
Torbay | 1076 | 1981 | 2002 | Kaskinen |
Greece[]
The Greek boats were built in Greece by MotoMarine with GRP hulls.[10] Ten are in service with the Hellenic Coast Guard.
Iceland[]
Name | RNLI ON | Built | Sold | Station | Comments[2] | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Asgrimur S Bjornsson | 1057 | 1978 | 2002 | Reykjavík | In use by Ársæll SAR team | |
Bjorg | 1053 | 1977 | 2002 | Rif | ||
Hannes Þ hafsteinn | 1078 | 1982 | 2003 | Sandgerði | ||
former named Jon Oddgeir[citation needed] | 1061 | 1980 | 2000 | decommissioned | Reported for sale in 2008, previously Gunnar Fridriksson but replaced by ON 1160. Reported damaged beyond repair, scrapped in December 2014 | |
1070 | 1981 | 2003 | Wrecked on passage to Iceland | |||
Gunnbjorg | 1118 | 1987 | 2004 | Raufarhofn | Replacement for ON 1070 lost on passage | |
Hafbjorg | 1113 | 1986 | 2004 | Neskaupstadur | ||
Jón oddgeir | 1050 | 1975 | 1999 | relief fleet December 2014 | 54 ft (16 m) boat,previously Oddur V Gislason but replaced by 1100. replaced by on 1078 in December 2014 | |
Hunabjorg | 1136 | 1987 | 2005 | Skagastrond | ||
Ingibjorg | 1108 | 1986 | 2006 | Hornafjordur | ||
Oddur V Gislason | 1100 | 1986 | 2007 | Grindavik | Steel hull | |
Sigurvin | 1144 | 198 | 2005 | Siglufjordur | ||
Sveinbjörn Sveinsson | 1134 | 1987 | 2006 | Vopnafjordur | ||
Vordur II | 1135 | 1988 | 2006 | Patreksfjordur | ||
Gunnar Fridriksson [citation needed] | 1160 | 1990 | 2007 | Isafjordur |
Madeira[]
Name | RNLI ON[2] | Built | Sold | Station |
---|---|---|---|---|
Salvador do Mar | 1067 | 1980 | 2003 | SANAS |
? | 1077 | 1982 | 2003 | SANAS |
References[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Arun class lifeboats. |
- ^ Wake-Walker, Edward (2008). The Lifeboats Story. Stroud: Sutton Publishing. pp. 59–63. ISBN 978-0-7509-4858-6.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i Denton, Tony (2009). Handbook 2009. Shrewsbury: Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 26–33.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Leach 2011, pp. 34–35
- ^ Kipling, Ray; Kipling, Susannah (2006). Never Turn Back. Stroud: Sutton Publishing. p. 173. ISBN 0-7509-4307-6.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Kipling, Ray; Kipling, Susannah (2006). Never Turn Back. Stroud: Sutton Publishing. pp. 85–87. ISBN 0-7509-4307-6.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Wake-Walker, Edward; Deane, Heather; Purches, Georgette (1989). Lifeboat! Royal National Lifeboat Institution. Shepperton: Ian Allan. pp. 38–41. ISBN 0-7110-1835-9.
- ^ Leach 2011, p. 122
- ^ "Fishermen's union: Supports plan to move Coast Guard lifeboat". . 7 February 1990. Retrieved 13 September 2009.
- ^ "New vessels ordered for Canadian Coast Guard". . 3 September 2009. Archived from the original on 6 September 2009.
- ^ http://www.motomarine.gr/military/index.html
Bibliography[]
- Leach, Nicholas (2011). Arun Lifeboats - An Illustrated History of the RNLI Arun lifeboats 1971-2009. Cudham, Kent, United Kingdom: Kelsey Publishing Group. ISBN 978-1-907426-21-6.
- Arun-class lifeboats