All-weather lifeboat
Thames class
Royal National Lifeboat Institution · United Kingdom & Ireland
Experimental fast lifeboat; only two built.
Specifications
Hull & dimensions
- Manufacturer / builder
- Brooke Marine, Lowestoft
- Hull type
- —
- Hull material
- —
- Watertight compartments
- —
- Length overall
- 15.2 m (49.9 ft)
- Length at waterline
- —
- Beam
- —
- Draught
- —
- Freeboard at bow
- —
- Freeboard at stern
- —
- Displacement
- —
- Gross tonnage
- —
- Net tonnage
- —
- Min vertical clearance
- —
- Height to highest unfixed point
- —
- Height to highest fixed point
- —
- Number built
- 2
- Year introduced
- 1974
- Year retired
- 1997
Machinery & propulsion
- Propulsion type
- —
- Engines
- —
- Engine manufacturer
- —
- Total engine power
- —
- Fuel type
- —
- Total fuel capacity
- —
- Fresh water capacity
- —
- Launch method
- —
Members-only
Operating limits (seas, surf, wind), towing and stability data, and detailed engineering specifications are available to Members.
Performance & capabilities
- Maximum speed
- 17 kn (31.5 km/h · 19.6 mph)
- Range
- —
- Endurance
- —
- Crew complement
- 6
- People capacity
- —
- Self-righting
- —
- Self-bailing
- —
- Ice operations capable
- —
- Max ice-breaking thickness
- —
- Medical facilities onboard
- —
Members-only
Operating limits (seas, surf, wind), towing and stability data, and detailed engineering specifications are available to Members.
Operational envelope & limits
Members-only
Operating limits (seas, surf, wind), towing and stability data, and detailed engineering specifications are available to Members.
Source citations
| # | Source | Type | Supports | Accessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [1] | RNLI official website RNLI https://rnli.org/about-us/our-history | official | General | Not yet checked |
| [2] | Thames-class lifeboat Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thames-class_lifeboat | reference | year_introduced, year_retired, number_built, builder | 2026-09-30 |