Since its inception, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution has provided lifeboats to lifeboat stations in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Girvan harbour and lifeboat
An 1863 tubular lifeboat from New Brighton, Merseyside
Severn-class RNLI Spirit of Guernsey at St Peter Port
Mersey-class lifeboat
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Mersey-class lifeboats are a class of All-weather lifeboats, originally operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. Introduced in 1988, 38 of this class of lifeboat would come to operate from
Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats
…craft are also in operation including personal watercraft, boarding boats and Y-class tenders. The Severn-class are undergoing life extension and the Mersey-class are being replaced by newly-built Shannons. The first lifeboats were powered by oars and most, except a few very early ones, had sails. A few were…
Final launch of 12-20 Leonard Kent (ON 1177) at Newcastle, County Down, 11 January 2026
Launching from a carriage and Talus MB-H amphibious tractor
Launching from a slipway
Stern showing the protected propellers