Mersey class lifeboat
From SpottingWorld, the Hub for the SpottingWorld network...
| The Mersey Class Lifeboat 12-007 'Spirit Of Derbyshire' Mersey class lifeboat 12-007 Spirit Of Derbyshire | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Operators: | 23px Royal National Lifeboat Institution |
| In service: | 1988– |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 14 t (14 long tons) |
| Length: | 11.6 m (38 ft) |
| Beam: | 3.8 m (12 ft) |
| Draught: | 1 m (3.3 ft) |
| Propulsion: |
2 × Caterpillar 3208 diesel engines, 210 kW (280 hp) 2 × 4-bladed contra-rotating propellers 1,088 litres fuel |
| Speed: | 16.5 knots (19.0 mph; 30.6 km/h) |
| Range: | 140 nmi (260 km) |
| Endurance: | 10.25 hours approx. at cruising speed |
| Complement: | 6 |
Mersey class lifeboats serve the shores of the UK and Ireland as a part of the RNLI all weather fleet.
The Mersey was the first 'fast' carriage slipway lifeboat, introduced in 1988. It was designed mainly to be launched from a carriage, but can also lie afloat or be slipway launched when required. Propellers are fully protected by partial tunnels and substantial bilge keels allowing the boat to take the ground without damage. Early models were constructed of aluminium, later of fibre reinforced composite.
The Mersey class is likely to be replaced by the FCB2 class, which is still in trials.
One of the first lifeboat stations to receive a Mersey class life boat was Bridlington on the east coast of Yorkshire.
External links
- RNLI Fleet - RNLI Fleet Pages
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
This article about an organisation in the United Kingdom is a stub. You can help Ship Spotting World by expanding it. |
| 40px | This article about a type of ship or boat is a stub. You can help Ship Spotting World by expanding it. |
