Clyde-class lifeboat

RNLB 70-001 Charles H. Barrett (Civil Service No.35) (ON 1030), now Dolphin at Maassluis, 2022
Class overview
Builders
Operators
Cost
  • £63,907 (70-001)
  • £65,113 (70-002),
  • £196,000 (70-003)
Built1965–66, 1974
In service1968–2002
Completed3
Retired3
General characteristics
TypeMotor lifeboat
Displacement78–85 tons
Length70–71 ft (21–22 m)
Beam17–18 ft (5.2–5.5 m)
Draft9 ft (2.7 m)
Installed powerTwin Gardner 8L3B 230 bhp (170 kW) diesel engines
PropulsionTwin screw
Speed11.5 knots (21.3 km/h; 13.2 mph)
Range1,700 nmi (3,100 km)

The Clyde-class lifeboat was operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) from just two of its stations in the United Kingdom, Kirkwall and Clovelly. Only three vessels were built for the RNLI, however a fourth vessel was built in the Netherlands to the same lines as 70-001 and 70-003, as a pilot boat for Trinity House.

History

Following a visit in the early sixties to lifeboat societies in the Netherlands and West Germany, which successfully employed cruising lifeboats, the RNLI's Management Committee decided to sanction the construction of two such boats for RNLI service. The first two boats went on trials in 1966 and in 1968 went on station at Clovelly and Kirkwall. The third boat was built as a relief but took over as station boat at Clovelly, with the first boat becoming the relief. It eventually became apparent that cruising type boats were not really suited to the RNLI's operations and the boats were used at their respective bases as normal lifeboats until withdrawal in 1988.[1][2]

Description

The Clyde-class cruising lifeboat was the largest ever built for the RNLI, and the first to have a steel hull. The first and second boats differed in hull design, Charles H. Barrett (Civil Service No.35) (ON 987) having a hull designed by the RNLI's Richard Oakley, 71 feet (22 m) long and with a beam of 18 feet (5.5 m), while the second boat, Grace Paterson Ritchie (ON 988), had a hull designed by Irish naval architect John Tyrrell and was 70 feet (21 m) long and with a beam of 17 feet (5.2 m). Both boats had similar superstructure layouts, with a flying bridge. As crews were intended to live on board, berths and messing facilities were provided.[3]

The boats were powered by two 230 brake horsepower (170 kW) Gardner 8L3B 8-cylinder diesel engines, driving twin screws. An inflatable inshore lifeboat was carried forward of the wheelhouse.[4]

Eight years after the first boat had been built, it was decided to build a third Clyde as a relief boat for the first two. This was based on the Oakley hull design, but featured a completely redesigned superstructure resembling an overgrown Arun.[1]

RNLI fleet

ON[a] Op. No.[b] Name Built In service[1] Station Comments[1][3]
987 70-001 Charles H. Barrett
(Civil Service No.35) 		1965 1966–1968 Trials [Note 1] Sold 1988.
Renamed Poplar Diver. Now Dolphin, at Maassluis, NL, July 2025.
MMSI 244070415
1968–1975 Clovelly
1975–1988 Relief fleet
988 70-002 Grace Paterson Ritchie 1965 1966–1967 Ullapool [Note 2] Sold to Iceland SAR, named Henry A. Hálfdánsson, 1989.
See below:–
1967–1968 Relief fleet
1968–1974 Kirkwall
1974–1975 Relief fleet
1975–1988 Kirkwall
1030 70-003 City of Bristol 1974 1975–1988 Clovelly [Note 3] Sold 1988.
Renamed John V Story, City of Bristol and Gemini Storm. Now Gemini Explorer, last reported at Loch Drambuie, Sound of Mull, June 2024.
MMSI 235084267[5]
  1. ^ ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
  2. ^ Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.

Other fleets

Iceland

RNLI ON Name ISL Reg. No.[a] In service[1] Station Comments[1]
988 Henry A. Hálfdansson 2001 1989–2002 Reykjavík Sold 2002.
Renamed Grace Paterson Richie, at Coleraine, Northern Ireland.
MMSI 235014516[6]
  1. ^ ISL Reg No. is the Icelandic Vessel Registration number

Trinity House fleet

Name Built In service Service Comments
Lodesman 1974 1974–1988 Heavy weather pilot vessel MV Lodesman, with Roving Eye Enterprises, Orkney.
MMSI 235076219[7]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ 71 ft 0 in (21.64 m) x 18 ft 0 in (5.49 m) lifeboat, gift of the Civil Service LB fund, built by Yarrow Shipbuilders of Scotstoun, Glasgow, with twin 230-hp Gardner 8L3B diesel engines, costing £63,907.
  2. ^ 70 ft 0 in (21.34 m) x 17 ft 0 in (5.18 m) lifeboat, legacy of Miss G. P. Ritchie, built by Yarrow Shipbuilders of Scotstoun, Glasgow, with twin 230-hp Gardner 8L3B diesel engines, costing £65,113.
  3. ^ 71 ft 0 in (21.64 m) x 18 ft 0 in (5.49 m) lifeboat, gift of the Bristol LB appeal, plus legacies of Mrs Rimer, Dr Riddick, Mr Vagg and Mrs Shrosbee, built by Bideford Shipyard 1973 Ltd, of Bideford, with twin 230-hp Gardner 8L3B diesel engines, costing £196,000.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2026). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2026. Lifeboats Enthusiasts Society. pp. 40–43.
  2. ^ "Changing Times". The Lifeboat. 51 (505): 5. Autumn 1988. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  3. ^ a b Morris, Jeff (2008). List of British Life-boats Part 3 (Third ed.). Lifeboat Enthusiasts' Society. pp. 66–69.
  4. ^ "New Steel 70-Foot Life-Boat". The Lifeboat. XXXVIII (414): 464–467. December 1965. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
  5. ^ "St Hilda Sea Adventures".
  6. ^ "Grace Paterson Ritchie". National Historic Ship Register.
  7. ^ "Roving Eye Enterprises".
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