RNLB B-536

History
United Kingdom
Name: B-536
Owner: Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)
Builder: Inshore Lifeboat Centre, Cowes
Official Number: B-536
Donor:
Stations Peel, Isle of Man
Sheringham, Norfolk
Laid down: 1976
Acquired: 18 April 1992
Decommissioned: January 1994
In service:
  • (Peel, Isle of Man) 1976 to 1994
  • (Sheringham)1992 to 1994
Notes: B 536 was originally stationed at Peel Lifeboat Station on the Isle of Man
General characteristics
Class and type: Atlantic 21
Type: Rigid-inflatable
Displacement: 1.4 tonnes
Length: 7.21 m (23.7 ft)overall
Beam: 2.49 m (8.2 ft)
Draught: 0.81 m (2.7 ft)
Depth: 4 ft 4 in (1.32 m)
Installed power: 70 hp (52 kW) each engine
Propulsion: Two 2-stroke outboard engines,
Speed: 32 knots (37 mph; 59 km/h)
Range: 3 hours
Capacity: 22
Crew: 3
Notes: Launched by Tractor aboard a trolley

The Inshore Lifeboat B-536 was an Atlantic 21 rigid-inflatable inshore lifeboat on station at the English coastal town of Sheringham in the county of Norfolk in the United Kingdom.[1][2] The ILB replaced the all-weather lifeboat RNLB Lloyds II (ON 986) on the 18 April 1992.[1]

Description

The B-536 was launched from a supplied trolley which was towed from the boathouse by a tractor. The boat was 7.21 m (23.7 ft) in length and she had a beam of 2.49 m (8.2 ft), and a draught of 0.81 m (2.7 ft). She was powered through the water by twin 2-stroke outboard engines, of 70 hp (52 kW) each. Her equipment included two VHF radios, First Aid Kit & oxygen, GPS navigation system, night vision equipment, self-righting system, anchor and various warps, toolkit, towing system, illuminating and distress pyrotechnics, spotlight, torches. The rollbar assembly installed above the engines contains a self-righting bag which was operated by a member of the crew activating a gas bottle.

New Era

The replacement of RNLB Lloyds II (ON 986)[1] all-weather lifeboat marked a new era and operating scope for the Sheringham Lifeboat Station. The RNLI considered that at this time the North Norfolk coastline now had excellent coverage by all-weather lifeboats which included a Mersey-class lifeboat at Wells-next-the-Sea, and a Tyne-class lifeboat to the east at the Cromer.[1] Although there was some sadness and apprehension from the town at the loss of its all-weather lifeboat, fears were allayed by the promise of a new state of the art Atlantic 75-class lifeboat[1] for the station in the near future. In the meantime the station was allocated the Atlantic 21 B-536, a boat which had been built in 1976[1] and had been stationed at Peel on the Isle of Man. The crew found that the B-536 was four times faster[1] than her predecessor and was much easier and faster to launch. She also had the capacity to work in shallower waters and would make a large contribution and improvement to the rescue cover along the North Norfolk coastline.[1]

Service

B-536 was called to service 19 times[1] during her short stay on the station. her first service took place on June 18, 1992[1] when she launched to assist the fishing boat Charles Mark which she escorted safely back to Sheringham beach. During 1993 the lifeboat was kept very busy being launched to service a total of 11 times.[1]

Lions International (B-539)

In September 1993[1] B-536 was relieved from Sheringham and her place was taken by another Atlantic 21,RNLB Lions International (B-539).[1] This boat stayed at Sheringham until 5 January 1994[1] when the new Atlantic 75 arrived.

Service and rescues

RNLB B-536
Date Casualty Lives saved
1992
June 18 Small fishing vessel Charles Mark in adverse conditions, escorted
June 25 Small fishing vessel Norther Star in adverse conditions, escorted
August 11 Cabin cruiser Ulster Queen, Machinery failure, escorted
August 12 Small fishing vessel, Machinery failure, escorted
September 5 Flotation buoy north east of station, gave help
October 28 Small derelict fishing vessel, false alarm
1993
January 29 Small fishing vessel My Girl, In adverse conditions, escorted casualty
March 21 Yacht Katina, gave help
April 11 Fishing vessel Tom Kit in adverse conditions, escorted
May 23 Sailing dinghy, stood by
August 4 Fishing vessel Triton, gave help
September 23 Fishing vessel Verity Ellen, gave help
Relieved by RNLB Lions International (B-539)
January 5 Assist a man in sea, who was rescued from the beach 1
Preceded by

RNLB Lloyds II (ON 986)

RNLB B-536

1992–1993
Succeeded by

RNLB Manchester Unity of Oddfellows (B-702)

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Sheringham Lifeboats: By Leach, Nicholas and Russell, Paul :Published by landmark Pub Ltd, 2009: ISBN 978-1-84306-473-2
  2. OS Explorer Map 252 - Norfolk Coast East. ISBN 978-0-319-23815-8.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/10/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.