RNLI hovercraft lifeboat
Encyclopedia
Hovercraft serve the shores of the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
as a part of the RNLI inshore fleet. The class are of a modified Type 470TD design built by Griffon Hovercraft.
The hovercraft
Hovercraft
A hovercraft is a craft capable of traveling over surfaces while supported by a cushion of slow moving, high-pressure air which is ejected against the surface below and contained within a "skirt." Although supported by air, a hovercraft is not considered an aircraft.Hovercraft are used throughout...
was developed to operate in tidal areas such as Morecambe Bay
Morecambe Bay
Morecambe Bay is a large bay in northwest England, nearly due east of the Isle of Man and just to the south of the Lake District National Park. It is the largest expanse of intertidal mudflats and sand in the United Kingdom, covering a total area of 310 km².-Natural features:The rivers Leven,...
where strandings by incoming tides can have fatal consequences and where normal craft are unable to operate, for example due to mud flats.
Hovercraft also operate out of Hunstanton
Hunstanton
Hunstanton, often pronounced by locals as and known colloquially as 'Sunny Hunny', is a seaside town in Norfolk, England, facing The Wash....
, New Brighton
New Brighton, Merseyside
New Brighton is a seaside resort forming part of the town of Wallasey, in the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral, in the metropolitan county of Merseyside, England. It is located at the northeastern tip of the Wirral Peninsula, within the historic county boundaries of Cheshire, and has sandy beaches...
, and Southend-on-Sea
Southend-on-Sea
Southend-on-Sea is a unitary authority area, town, and seaside resort in Essex, England. The district has Borough status, and comprises the towns of Chalkwell, Eastwood, Leigh-on-Sea, North Shoebury, Prittlewell, Shoeburyness, Southchurch, Thorpe Bay, and Westcliff-on-Sea. The district is situated...
stations.
As of 2009, the following are in operation, with their home station (note that vessels H-001 and H-006 are in reserve at Poole; they are used for training):
- H-001 Molly Rayner - Relief fleet
- H-002 The Hurley Flyer - Morecambe
- H-003 Hunstanton Flyer (Civil Service No. 450) - Hunstanton
- H-004 Vera Ravine - Southend-on-Sea
- H-005 Hurley Spirit - New Brighton
- H-006 John Russell - Relief fleet
- H-007 Samburgh - Relief fleet