Atlantic 21-class lifeboat

The Atlantic 21 is part of the B-class of lifeboats that served the shores of the United Kingdom and Ireland as part of the RNLI inshore fleet. The Atlantic 21 was the first generation Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB), originated at and by Atlantic College in South Wales, the birth place of the RIB after which the craft is so named. The school was also one of nine locations where the RNLI first established lifeboat stations using smaller inshore watercraft. Atlantic College Lifeboat Station was commissioned by the RNLI in 1963 and decommissioned in 2013.

Falmouth Round Table (B-595) during Falmouth Lifeboat Day, August 2006.
Class overview
Name: B-class (Atlantic 21)
Builders: Inshore Lifeboat Centre, Cowes
Operators: Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Preceded by: C-class
Succeeded by: B-class (Atlantic 75)
Built: 1969–1994
In service: 1970–2007
Completed: 96
General characteristics
Displacement: 1.4 tonnes
Length: 7.21 m (23.7 ft)
Beam: 2.49 m (8.2 ft)
Draught: 0.81 m (2.7 ft)
Propulsion: 2 × 70 hp (52 kW) 2-stroke outboard engines
Speed: 32 knots (37 mph)
Endurance: 3 hours
Capacity: 22
Complement: 3

Nearly all of the Atlantic 21s have been retired from service by 2006, one of the notable exceptions to this being the boat allocated to Walmer in Kent. RNLB James Burgess (B-589) was retired to the relief fleet in December 2006, it was replaced by an Atlantic 85.

Description

The Atlantic 21 can be launched from a davit, trolley or floating boathouse depending on the location of the station and the available facilities.

The boat carries a variety of equipment which includes two VHF radios, first aid kit and 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 is operated by a member of the crew activating a gas bottle.

Fleet

Atlantic 21 B-526 alongside Atlantic 75 B-713 in 2005
Atlantic 21 B-582 in Poole Harbour in 2007
Atlantic 21 B-584 on exercise in Bangor Bay in 2006
Atlantic 21 B-592 on Lough Erne in 2004
Op. No.[lower-alpha 1] Name In service Station Comments
B-500 Unnamed[lower-alpha 2] 1970–1977 Trialled at various stations First Atlantic 21 (Prototype)
Now at Royal National Lifeboat Collection - Chatham
B-501 Unnamed[lower-alpha 2] 1970–1977 Relief fleet
B-502 Unnamed[lower-alpha 2] 1972–1973 Trials
B-503 Unnamed[lower-alpha 2] 1972–1975 Hartlepool
B-504 Blue Peter I 1972–1973 Littlehampton
B-505 Major Osman Gabriel 1972–1975
1975–1979
1979–1980
1980–1982
Queensferry
Relief fleet
Silloth
Atlantic College
B-506 Unnamed[lower-alpha 2] 1972–1976
1976–1978
1978–
West Mersea
Relief fleet
Staithes and Runswick
B-507 Griende 1972–2005 KNRM Built for KNRM
B-508 Unnamed[lower-alpha 2] 1973–1980 UWC Atlantic College
B-509 Unnamed[lower-alpha 2] 1973–1981
1981–1985
New Brighton
Relief fleet
B-510 Tuimelaar 1973– KNRM Built for KNRM
B-511 Co-Operative No.1 1973–1975
1975–1979
1981–1985
1985–1989
1989–1997
Largs
Hayling Island
Relief fleet
Clacton-on-Sea
Relief fleet
B-512 U.S.Navy League 1973–1980
1980–1990
1990–1992
1992–1997
1997–1998
1998–2001
2001–2009
Lyme Regis
Relief fleet
Walmer
Relief fleet
Weymouth
Sligo Bay
Publicity fleet
Damaged by vandals and scrapped
B-513 William McCunn and Broom Y.F. 1973–1980
1980–1997
Largs
Relief fleet
B-514 Guide Friendship 1 1973–1983
1983–2000
Aberdovey
Relief fleet
Now with ICE-SAR
B-515 V E Webber 1973–1985
1985–1992
1992–1993
1993–1994
1994–2000
Beaumaris
Relief fleet
Port Erin
Flamborough
Relief fleet
Now with ICE-SAR
B-516 Whitstable Branch 1973–1984
1983–1990
Whitstable
Relief fleet
B-517 Blue Peter I 1973–1974
1974–
Littlehampton
Relief fleet
B-518 Sole Bay 1973–1985
1985–1990
Southwold
Relief fleet
Now privately owned at St Helens, Isle of Wight
B-519 Surrey Forester 1973–1986
1986–1990
Lymington
Relief fleet
B-520 Wildenrath Whizzer 1974–1986
1986–1990
1990–1993
1993–2005
Appledore
Redcar
Relief fleet
Publicity fleet
B-521 Mary Livingstone 1975–1981
1981–1994
Queensferry
Relief fleet
B-522 Dolfijn 1974– KNRM Built for KNRM
B-523 Unnamed[lower-alpha 2] 1974–1985
1985–1995
1995–1998
Littlehampton
Relief fleet
ILC, Cowes
Now named Bay Mermaid I with Cardiff Harbour Authority
B-524 1974– KNRM Built for KNRM
B-525 Spix's Macaw 1974–2001
2001–2004
Relief fleet
Enniskillin
B-526 Unnamed[lower-alpha 2] 1974–1978
1978–1987
1987–1995
1995–1997
1997–1998
1998–2002
2002–2009

2010-2013

2014-2016

Relief fleet
Harwich
Relief fleet
Hayling Island
Clacton-on-Sea
Relief fleet
ILC, Cowes

LifeSaving Victoria, AU

VMR, AU

2010 - Transferred to Lifesaving Victoria (Melbourne, Australia)

2013 - Operated by VMR Mornington - Volunteer Marine Rescue Inc - (Mornington, Australia)

B-527 Percy Garon 1976–1986
1986–1998
Southend-on-Sea
Relief fleet
Now with Finnish Lifeboat Society
B-528 Unnamed[lower-alpha 2] 1975–2000 Relief fleet
B-529 Alexander Duckham 1976–1987
1988–1990
1991–1993
1993–2000
West Mersea
Mudeford
Falmouth
Relief fleet
B-530 Himley Hall 1975–1981
1981–1985
1985–1989
1989–1993
Eastney
Relief fleet
Macduff
Relief fleet
B-531 Foresters 1975–1988
1988–2002
Great Yarmouth and Gorleston
Relief fleet
2002–2011 with Poole Harbour Commission
2011–present with Aegir Nautical
B-532 Guide Friendship III 1975–1986
1986–1998
Hartlepool
Relief fleet
Now with Finnish Lifeboat Society
B-533 Unnamed[lower-alpha 2] 1975–1988
1988–1998
Littlestone-on-Sea
Relief fleet
B-534 Unnamed[lower-alpha 2] 1975–
B-535 R.A.O.B. 1975–1976
1976–1992
1992–1995
1995–1997
Hartlepool
Berwick-upon-Tweed
Relief fleet
Kyle of Lochalsh
1997–2010 with Ballybunion Sea & Cliff Rescue as Clara T.
2010–present in private ownership in Szczecin, Poland named Aga B (cooperating with local rescue services)
B-536 Unnamed[lower-alpha 2] 1976–1989
1989–1992
1992–1994
1994–1999
Peel
Relief fleet
Sheringham
Relief fleet
B-537 Unnamed[lower-alpha 2] 1976–1989 Relief fleet
B-538 Lord Brotherton 1978–1989
1989–1990
Staithes and Runswick
Relief fleet
B-539 Lions International 1978–1989
1989–1990
1990–1991
1991–1994
1993–1994
1994–1998
Brighton
Relief fleet
St. Catherine
Relief fleet
Sheringham
Relief fleet
B-540 Wolverhampton 1978–1990
1990–1996
1996–2000
Abersoch
Relief fleet
Trearddur Bay
Now with ICE-SAR
B-541 Elizabeth Bestwick 1976–1988
1988–1991
1992–1997
Relief fleet
Falmouth
Relief fleet
B-542 William Yeo 1976–1987
1987–2003
Relief fleet
ILC, Cowes
B-543 Round Table 1978–1990
1990–2001
Helensburgh
Relief fleet
B-544 Catherine Plumbley 1976–1994
1994–1998
Minehead
Relief fleet
Now with ICE-SAR
B-545 Amelia Gregory Armstrong 1980–1995
1995–1998
Silloth
Relief fleet
B-546 Forester Benevolence 1980–1997
1997–1998
Lyme Regis
Relief fleet
Now in Portugal
B-547 Forester Liberty 1980–1998 Largs Now named Káraborg (BB 7482) with ICE-SAR
B-548 Aldershot 1980–1994

1994–1995

1995–1998

1998–?

?–2015

2015–2016

2016–...

Hayling Island

Poole

Relief fleet

Finnish Lifeboat Society

Unknown

Private owner

Muhu Maritime Rescue Society

Now with Muhu Maritime Rescue Society (Muhu, Saaremaa, Estonia)
B-549 Blenwatch 1981–1996
1996–1998
1998–2001
2001–2003
New Brighton
Tighnabruaich
Relief fleet
Enniskillen
Now with ICE-SAR
B-550 "City of Portsmouth" 1981–1996
1996–1998
Portsmouth
Relief fleet
1998 - Sold to Finnish Lifeboat Society
Now with Estonian Maritime Rescue Organization (Tallinna Vabatahtlik Merepääste/Tallinn SAR)
B-551 Constance Macnay 1981–1997
1997–1998
1998–1999
Queensferry
Relief fleet
Clifden
Now with Finnish Lifeboat Society
B-552 Bruinvis 1981–2006 KNRM Built for KNRM
B-553 Kirklees 1981–1998
1998–1999
1999–2000
Newbiggin
Helvick Head
Relief fleet
2000–2013 named Dove with Sandown & Shanklin Inshore Lifeboat
2013–present with Lagan Search and Rescue
B-554 American Ambassador 1982–2000
2000–2001
Atlantic College
Relief fleet
Now in Australia
B-555 Long Life I 1982–1997 Relief fleet
B-556 Spirit of America 1982–1998
1998–1999
Hunstanton
Relief fleet
Now with Finnish Lifeboat Society
B-557 Weston Centenary 1983–2000 Weston-super-Mare Now with Finnish Lifeboat Society
B-558 Ramsgate Enterprise 1984–2000
2000–2001
Ramsgate
Relief fleet
2002–2007 named St. Brendan with Bantry Inshore Search & Rescue
B-559 Long Life 3 1984–1999
1999–2001
Aberdovey
Relief fleet
Now named Spirit of Tortola at British Virgin Islands
B-560 British Diver 1984–2000 Whitstable
B-561 Marjorie Turner 1983–2002 Youghal Now with Finnish Lifeboat Society
B-562 The Quiver 1985–1998
1998–2001
Southwold
Relief fleet
Now with Finnish Lifeboat Society
B-563 Blue Peter II 1985–2000
2000–2002
Beaumaris
Relief fleet
Now with Finnish Lifeboat Society
B-564 Blue Peter I 1985–2001
2001–2003
Littlehampton
Relief fleet
B-565 Manchester and District XXXII 1986–1997
1997–1998
Appledore
Relief fleet
B-566 Frank and Mary Atkinson 1986–2002 Lymington Now named Willemtje with KNRM
B-567 Percy Garon II 1986–2001
2001–2004
Southend-on-Sea
Relief fleet
Sold to Chile
B-568 Burton Brewer 1986–2000
2000–2005
2005–2007
Hartlepool
Relief fleet
ILC, Cowes
Now with Dorset Police (P-002)
B-569 Unnamed[lower-alpha 2] 1986–1994
1994–1997
1997–1998
1998–2000
Portaferry
Relief fleet
Helvick Head
Relief fleet
B-570 Himley Hall 1987–2001
2001–2005
West Mersea
Relief fleet
B-571 British Diver II 1987–2002
2002–2006
2006–2007
Harwich
Relief fleet
ILC, Cowes
Now with LifeSaving Victoria (Melbourne, Australia)

2016 - Operated by VMR Hastings - Volunteer Marine Rescue Inc (Hastings, Australia)

B-572 Dorothy and Kathrine Barr 1988–2002 St Abbs Now with Chilean Lifeboats
B-573 The Lady Dart and Long Life II 1988–2002 Littlestone-on-Sea Now with Chilean Lifeboats
B-574 Joseph B Press 1988–2002
2002–2007
2007–2008
Great Yarmouth and Gorleston
Relief fleet
ILC, Cowes
B-575 John Batstone 1989–1992
1992–1997
1997–1998
1998–2000
2000–2002
Peel
Relief fleet
Clifden
Relief fleet
Crosshaven
B-576 Ellis Sinclair 1989–2002
2002–2006
Staithes and Runswick
Relief fleet
B-577 Graham hillier and Tony Cater 1989–1997
1997–1999
Brighton
Relief fleet
1999–2004 named Sidmouth Herald with Sidmouth Independent Lifeboat
2005–present named Ira with Nisos Yacht Charter in the Ionian Islands, Greece
B-578 The Rotary Club of Glasgow 1989–2006
2006–2008
Macduff
ILC, Cowes
Now with Dorset Police (P-001)
B-579 Institute of London Underwriters 1989–1997
1997–2001
2001–2002
2002–2003
Clacton-on-Sea
Relief fleet
St Abbs
Relief fleet
B-580 Leicester Challenge 1990–2001
2001–2002
2002–2009
Redcar
Sligo bay
Relief fleet
B-581 Andrew Mason 1990–2002
2002–2004
2004–2009
2009–
Helensburgh
Relief fleet
Enniskillin
Relief fleet
B-582 Borough of Solihull 1990–2002
2002–2007
2007–2008
Abersoch
Relief fleet
ILC, Cowes
2008–2011 with Dorset Police (P-003)
2011 - returned to RNLI
B-583 Ken Derham 1990–2006
2006–2009
Mudeford
ILC, Cowes
B-584 Youth of Ulster 1991–2006
2006–
Bangor
Relief fleet
B-585 Peter and Grace Ewing 1991–2006
2006–
Kirkcudbright
ILC, Cowes
B-586 Clothworker 1991–1998
1998–1999
1999–2001
2001–2002
2002–2004
2004–2007
2007–2009
Relief fleet
Cardigan
Relief fleet
Littlehampton
Relief fleet
Lough Derg
Relief fleet
B-587 Jessie Eliza' 1991–2001 St Catherine's
B-588 Frank and Dorothy 1991–2006
2006–2008
2008–2009
Teignmouth
Relief fleet
Storage
B-589 James Burgess 1992–2006
2006–2009
Walmer
ILC, Cowes
2009 - Sold to Gardline
B-590 Wolverson X-Ray 1992–2006
2006–2011
Mudeford
Relief fleet
Now named The Dove II with Sandown & Shanklin Independent Lifeboat
B-591 Edmund and Joan White 1992–2006
2006–2009
Cullercoats
Enniskillin
Now with ICE-SAR in Eskifjordur
B-592 Ernest Armstrong 1992–1998
1998–2001
2001–2003
2003–2006
Relief fleet
Lamlash
Relief
Enniskillin
B-593 Valerie Hull 1993–2006
2006–2010
Kilkeel
ILC, Cowes
2010–2013 with Oban Sea Cadets
2013–present in private ownership
B-594 Herbert and Edith 1993–2006
2006–
Port Erin
ILC, Cowes
B-595 Falmouth Round Table 1994–2007 Falmouth Now with KNRM
  1. Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.
  2. Not every Atlantic 21-class lifeboat was given a name
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