| Fact file |
The hulls of Tamar Class lifeboats are made from state-of-the-art materials: a fibre-reinforced composite of epoxy, glass and carbon |
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The Tyne Class Lifeboat is virtually unsinkable. If it capsizes in the stormy seas around the British Isles, it rights itself within five seconds.
The propellers are protected by big keels sticking down on either side, as the Tyne Class launches down the slipway.
Designed by the National Maritime Institute, this powerful all-weather lifeboat has been the mainstay of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s (RNLI) fleet since it came into service in 1982.
Now the Tyne is giving way to the magnificent Tamar Class.
It’s fast with a top speed of 25 knots.
It’s big at 16m long, and weighs 28 tonnes.
It’s safe. The crew can operate the boat remotely from their seats using the latest computer technology. Less movement means fewer injuries on board.
And the engine still works even when the lifeboat is upside down!
Designed by the RNLI’s engineering team, the Tamar Class is the most advanced lifeboat in the world.
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