Trent-class lifeboat
14-32 Corinne Whiteley (ON 1253)
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| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Builders: | Green Marine |
| Operators: |
 Royal National Lifeboat Institution
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| Preceded by: | Arun, Tyne, Waveney |
| Cost: | £1.1 million |
| Built: | 1991–2005 |
| In service: | 1994– |
| Completed: | 38 |
| Active: | 37 |
| Retired: | 1 |
| General characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 27.5 long tons (28 t) |
| Length: | 14.26 m (46 ft 9 in) |
| Beam: | 4.9 m (16 ft 1 in) |
| Draught: | 1.3 m (4 ft 3 in) |
| Propulsion: | 2 × MAN D2840LE 401 diesel engines, 860 hp (641 kW) |
| Speed: | 25 knots (29 mph; 46 km/h) |
| Range: | 250 nmi (460 km) |
| Capacity: |
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| Complement: | 6 |
The Trent-class lifeboat is an all-weather lifeboat operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) from 30 stations around the coasts of Great Britain and Ireland to provide coverage up to 50 miles (80 km) out to sea. Introduced to service in 1994, the class is named after the River Trent, the second longest river wholly in England.
In the 1980s the RNLI's Arun and Waveney all-weather lifeboats provided coverage 30 miles (48 km) out to sea, operating at up to 18 knots (33 km/h) to cover the distance in two hours in good weather. However the RNLI felt that they needed the capability to extend their coverage to 50 miles (80 km) radius which would require lifeboats with a top speed of 25 knots (46 km/h). This resulted in the 14 metres (46 ft) Trent and 17 metres (56 ft) Severn lifeboats.
The prototype for the Trent class was built in 1991. It was used for trials until 1994, when it was put into active service at Alderney Lifeboat Station. It remained on station there until their own boat was available in 1995, since when it has served in the relief fleet. Construction of its sister boats continued until 2004.
The Trent is intended to lie afloat at moorings. It has five water-tight bulkheads to create six compartments: fore peak; fore store; survivor cabin; tank space; machinery space; and aft peak steering compartment. Above these is the main deckhouse which has seats for the six crew and a doctor. This is another water-tight space which provides the boat's self-righting capability.
Designed and built by Green Marine, each boat is constructed of over 100 mm thick fibre reinforced composite topsides, single laminate double hull bottoms, 4 water-tight bulkheads and prepreg epoxy, glass and Kevlar shields.
The Trent has a service life of 25 years, although current estimates appear to exceed these original operational confines due to constant on-station maintenance, periodic refitting and sporadic repairs. In comparison with its predecessors, the boat has numerous additional advantages which aid in the overall success of every launch. One detail would be its condensed hull, which allows it to operate in significantly constrained locations (such as marina berths and dense quayside scenes).
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Wikipedia