E class lifeboat

E Class lifeboat in action on the Thames
Class overview
Operators:	23px Royal National Lifeboat Institution
In service:	2002–
Active:	6
General characteristics
Length:	9 m (30 ft)
Beam:	2.8 m (9.2 ft)
Propulsion:	2 × 240 hp (179 kW) Steyr diesels powering Hamilton waterjets
Speed:	40 knots (46 mph; 74 km/h)
Endurance:	4 hours approx.
Complement:	3

The E class lifeboat is operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution of the United Kingdom and Ireland.

The class was introduced in 2002 to serve the Thames Estuary on the south east coast of the UK as a part of the RNLI inshore fleet. There are four E Class boats in use at Chiswick and Waterloo Pier (known as Tower Lifeboat).

An E Class lifeboat was once operational at Gravesend, however when it reached the end of its life expectancy due to wear and tear, the E Class lifeboat at Gravesend was replaced with an Atlantic 85 lifeboat. The E-class fleet was originally designed to suit typical river conditions, but the nature of Gravesend RNLI means rescue calls can include river and coastal conditions. The Atlantic 85 lifeboat was originally designed as an inshore lifeboat for operations at coastal lifeboat stations and, while Gravesend lies within the River Thames estuary, the nature of many of their rescues means they now range from the conditions you would expect with a tidal river and those associated with more open seas.

Made of an aluminium alloy with a closed cell polythene foam collar, the 9 metre boat carries the following equipment; 2 × VHF radios, First Aid Kit & medical gases as well as an Emergency Difibrilator, GPS navigation system, night vision equipment, self-righting system, anchor and various warps, toolkit, Radar interrogator, towing system, spotlight, torches.

The E class is the fastest boat in the RNLI fleet and the Jet Drive gives the boats extreame maneuverability which is essential to enable crews to reach casualties in the fast flowing river.

External links

• RNLI - Fleet