The D-class (EA16) lifeboat is a class of inflatable boat operated since 1987 by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution of the United Kingdom and Ireland. It has been replaced operationally by the D-class (IB1), but many are still used as part of the relief fleet, as boarding boats for the larger classes of lifeboat and by the RNLI Flood Rescue Team.
D-class lifeboat at speed
RNLB Inbhear Deas (D-518), which is now part of the Flood Rescue team.
Eastbourne Lifeboat Station is a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat station in the town of Eastbourne in East Sussex. Founded two years before the RNLI was established, the station has operated continuously since 1822 and its lifeboats have been responsible for saving over 700 lives. There are two active lifeboat stations in Eastbourne, an all-weather station with the Trent-class 14-02 Esme Anderson at Sovereign Harbour and the D-class (IB1) The David H (D-876) at the inshore lifeboat station a couple of miles to the west at Fisherman's Green. An older lifeboat station, west of Eastbourne Pier, is now used as an RNLI museum.
Eastbourne Lifeboat Station at Sovereign Harbour, Eastbourne
The William Terriss Memorial Boathouse in Eastbourne, now the Eastbourne RNLI Museum
The Eastbourne Inshore Lifeboat Station, from where D-class inflatable inshore lifeboats are launched
The Diamond Jubilee at anchor in Sovereign Harbour in 2014