The Royal National Lifeboat Institution, along with numerous smaller independent teams, provide volunteers to rescue people at sea and at some inland waterways.
NJ60 NYK
Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)
Citroën Nemo
This white Citroën Nemo van is used by the RNLI for water safety and training purposes. It features decals for ‘Vital Training’ and ‘RNLI Water Safety’, and has a green AED sign indicating medical equipment on-board. Photographed in Helmsley.
HF65 HPJ
Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)
Talus SC-T10 Launch Tractor
A tracked RNLI Talus SC-T10 launch tractor, used for deploying the lifeboat at Scarborough. It features a robust design for beach and slipway use, and is clearly marked with RNLI branding. This specialist equipment is seen indoors with other RNLI assets.
Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)
D-class lifeboat Warter Priory based at Whitby
Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)
Shannon-class lifeboat Lois Ivan based at Whitby
HG56 LNX
Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)
Land Rover Defender
Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)
D-736
This small D-class craft is based at Amble and seen here at near-by Alnmouth for a community event
Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)
Whitby’s inshore and full-sized lifeboats on a training exercise in the North Sea
LK18 FVU
Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)
Tractor Unit
Used to launch a lifeboat at Bridlington. The combined tractor and trailer is 20m long, 3.5m wide and 4m high. It weighs 37 tonnes and the engine is a 13 litre turbo-charged one. This all combines to a top speed of just 10 mph.
WA11 EUR
Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)
Tooltrack tractor unit
Used to launch a D-class lifeboat at Bridlington
Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)
D-class lifeboat based at Bridlington
CU56 FHH
Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)
Tractor Unit
Used to launch and retrieve Conwy’s lifeboat
Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)
RNLB Bingo Lifeline, based at Conwy
HG59 NZW
Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)
Mitsubishi L200
Based at Moelfre lifeboat station, Anglesey
HN63 OSO
Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)
Mercedes Sprinter
Rescue Support Vehicle
HF58 BVD
Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)
Land Rover Defender
Used to tow a rescue boat
Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)
Trent Class
Whitby’s lifeboat RNLB George and Mary Webb
HF11 AHA
Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)
Land Rover Defender
Flood Rescue Team spotted at Overeater Marina in Cheshire
Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)
17-08 is RNLB Helmut Schroder of Dunlossit II based at Port Askaig on the Isle of Islay, Scotland. The Dunlossits are a wealthy family who have a large estate on the island.
Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)
Tyne Class
RNLB City of Sheffield. This vessel was retired in 2016 from Poole after saving 650 lives in a 15-year career. It is now in preservation at the National Emergency Services Museum in Sheffield, perversely 60 miles from the sea.
Humber Rescue
RIB
Operated by the independent charity that saves lives at sea based under the Humber Bridge
Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)
Suzuki Jimny
T777 HRL
Humber Rescue
Land Rover Defender
Roy Barker I
Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)
Trent Class
Alderney’s lifeboat. A lifeboat has been based at Alderney since 1984. Prior to this, there was a 100 year gap since a lifeboat was based on this small Channel Island.
Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)
Inshore Lifeboat D-686 D Class
Peter Downes
HG55 GUA
Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)
Land Rover Defender
Used for launching Seahouses’ IRB
Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)
Mersey Class lifeboat
Grace Darling, based at Seahouses
L784 JNT
Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)
Talus MB-H
Seahouses’ tractor unit. The is used for launching the Mersey class all-weather Lifeboat. The Tractor is fully waterproof and is controlled by a joystick. The vehicle weighs 19 tonnes.
Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)
Tooltrak
Tractor unit making its way down the slipway to retrieve Craster’s IRB and returning it to the lifeboat station
Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)
D-Class
Joseph Hughes Inshore rescue boat returning to Craster harbour on the Northumberland coast
Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)
Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat (ILB)
Named David Page and stationed at St Helier since entering service in January 2007
Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) Atlantic 85-Class inshore rescue boat B-825 Norma Ethel Vinall. Built in 2008, it is part of the relief fleet.
Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat named The Will seen here based at North Shields, Tyne and Wear.
A462 AUX Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat launching vehicle based at Ilfracombe, Devon.
EX52 WDT Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) New Holland TC45D tractor used for launching the inshore rescue boat at Ilfracombe, Devon
HJ58 PKN, HG58 BZY Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) Land Rover Defenders
S322 JSE Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) Scania 94D 220 lifeboat launching truck for the Macduff Lifeboat in Aberdeenshire. Notice the stabilisers.
RNLI Lifeboat Brawn Challenge, based at Westminster, London
K792 NCT Humber Rescue Massey Ferguson tractor with inshore rescue boat.
Watch a video of this vehicle in action!
BPR 667T County Tractor MB-764 that is used to launch and retrieve the inshore vessel at Hayling Island. This specially adapted tractor can wade in depth of up to 1.5 metres and is waterproof up as high as the roof. The tyres are filled up to three-quarters full with sea water. This helps prevent the tractor from floating in deep water.
The rear view of the cab.
The winch and massive tyres.
This RNLI rib is based at Hayling Island, Hampshire.
The rear view of the rib, looking out across the beach to the sea.
Hayling Island Lifeboat Station.
SF58 MVZ A RNLI tractor used for launching a small rib at Hayling Island, Hampshire.
The side view.
The rear view.
A yellow inshore rescue boat with a smaller orange boat attached.
A look at the operator’s logo: LEPE Inshore Rescue and Youth Marine Training Academy.
A look at the vessel from behind.
Yarmouth’s lifeboat is this Severn Class vessel named Eric and Susan Hiscock (Wanderer).
A view from the rear.
This photograph shows an RNLI inshore rescue team coming the aid of a stricken vessel near Tynemouth.
RNLB Fraser Flyer (17-17) is a £880,000 boat that is part of the RNLI’s reserve fleet. It takes over at various lifeboat stations when the home vessel is out of service. The ruins of Tynemouth Priory can be seen in the background on this shot.
A closer look at the vessel.
A closer look at the vessel.
Here it tows a stricken vessel back to harbour.
Michael and Jane Vernon is the Severn-Class lifeboat based at Lerwick, the capital of the Shetland Islands. It has been in service at the station since 1997 and carries a small Y-class inflatable.
The rear view of the 17m long lifeboat. Its two 1200 hp engines can propel it up to 25 knots.
Sandown and Shanklin’s inshore rescue boat outside the team’s base.
F146 NPM Sandown and Shanklin Independent Lifeboat use this Matbro tractor unit to launch their boat. Based on the Isle of Wight, they work alongside three RNLI stations.
A second view of the tractor in use.
LK11 GXT Used to launch Queensferry’s inshore rescue boat is this RNLI tractor unit. The yellow tractor has a special feature whereby the driver’s seat and controls can rotate to face forwards or backwards. This is useful as there isn’t much space to do a u-turn on the slipway. On this shot you can see that the yellow rear registration plate appears to be on the front!
Seahouses’ Mersey Class lifeboat 12-16, named RNLB Grace Darling after a local heroine.