The fleet
The RNLI has an active fleet of more than 300 lifeboats, ranging from 5m to 17m in length, and a relief fleet of about 100 boats. The current fleet also includes four active and one relief hovercraft.
RNLI lifeboats can be divided into two categories: all weather lifeboats and inshore lifeboats. Different kinds of lifeboat are needed for different places. The class of lifeboat at a particular station depends on the geography of the location and the rescues it carries out.
Hovercraft can operate in areas such as mud flats or river estuaries that are inaccessible to conventional lifeboats.
Tamar
The Tamar class lifeboat is the RNLI's latest design and will gradually replace the Tyne class.
Severn
The Severn class lifeboat was introduced to the all-weather fleet in 1995.
Trent
The Trent class lifeboat is designed to lie afloat, either at deep-water moorings or at a berth.
Tyne
The Tyne class lifeboat was the first fast slipway lifeboat.
Mersey
The Mersey class lifeboat was introduced in 1988 and was the RNLI's first fast carriage lifeboat.
B class (Atlantic)
The Atlantic 85 is a rigid inflatable lifeboat, introduced in 2005 as the latest development of the B class.
View the B class (Atlantic) in action
D class
The D class has been the workhorse of the service for 40 years.
E class
The E class lifeboat was introduced in 2002 and is the fastest lifeboat in the RNLI fleet.
Hovercraft
Hovercraft were introduced to the fleet in 2002 and can operate in mud, sand and very shallow water.
Arancia
The Arancia is an inshore inflatable rescue boat used by the RNLI's lifeguards
