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H-class rescue hovercraft [1] serve the shores of the United Kingdom as a part of the RNLI inshore fleet. A modified Type 470TD design built by Griffon Hoverwork, they were developed to operate in tidal areas such as Morecambe Bay, where strandings by incoming tides can have fatal consequences; and in waters too shallow for normal craft.
RNLI Hovercraft H001 Molly Rayner in 2005 | |
Class overview | |
---|---|
Name | H-class rescue hovercraft |
Builders | Griffon Hoverwork |
Operators | Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) |
Preceded by | None |
Built | 2002–2009 |
In service | 2002– |
Completed | 7 |
Active | 7 |
General characteristics | |
Displacement | 3.86 tonnes |
Length | 6.88 m (22.6 ft) |
Beam | 3.36 m (11.0 ft) |
Draught | N/A |
Propulsion | 2 x VW 1.9 turbo diesels |
Speed | 30 knots (35 mph; 56 km/h) |
Endurance | 3 hours |
Capacity | 10 |
Complement | 2-4 |
Hovercraft were also assigned to three other stations, New Brighton, Hunstanton, and Southend-on-Sea. In 2016, the New Brighton Hovercraft H-005 Hurley Spirit was reassigned to Hoylake.
In 2023, trials were carried out by the RNLI, assisted by the team at Hoylake station, to evaluate different crafts being considered as a potential successor to the current hovercraft.[2]
Op.No.[lower-alpha 1] | Name | In service[3] | Principal Station | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|
H-001 | Molly Rayner | 2002– | Relief fleet | [4] |
H-002 | The Hurley Flyer | 2002– | Morecambe | [5] |
H-003 | Hunstanton Flyer (Civil Service No.45) |
2003– | Hunstanton | [6] |
H-004 | Vera Ravine | 2004– | Southend-on-Sea | [7] |
H-005 | Hurley Spirit | 2004–2016 2016– |
New Brighton Hoylake |
[8] |
H-006 | John Russell | 2005– | Relief fleet | [9] |
H-007 | Samburgh | 2009– | Relief fleet | |
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