New inshore lifeboat enters service at Tynemouth RNLI lifeboat station

After being transported from Cowes to North Shields, the new lifeboat was prepared for service, given a short trial, and officially placed into service at 11.50. It replaces the previous D-class lifeboat at the station which had served for over ten years, launching over 300 times to go to the aid of people in need of help at sea and in the river Tyne.

The D class inshore lifeboat has been the workhorse of the RNLI for over 50 years since it was first introduced into the RNLI’s lifeboat fleet in 1963, with the design of the inflatable D class lifeboat continuing to evolve to meet changes in demand and technology. The D class is a highly manoeuvrable boat which usually operates closer to shore than all-weather lifeboats, with better capabilities for carrying out search and rescues in surf, shallow water and close to cliffs, among rocks and even inside caves.

David Stenhouse, Tynemouth RNLI's volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager, said: 'Our operational area for the inshore lifeboat covers the Tyne harbour, the open sea, the bays and beaches of North and South Tyneside and also the river Tyne right up to Newburn. We are very pleased to have this new lifeboat placed on service, and extremely grateful to Pat and Susan Russell who have funded the boat which is a fantastic piece of kit and brings the latest technology and capabilities to enable our volunteer crew to continue saving lives well into the future.'

Mr Stenhouse added: Little Susie, numbered D-829, will be officially christened into the RNLI's lifeboat fleet at a naming ceremony that will take place at Tynemouth RNLI lifeboat station in May 2019.

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Tynemouth RNLI lifeboat station was established in 1862 although there have been lifeboats on the river Tyne since the world's first purpose-built lifeboat was launched on the river in 1790. The station has 30 volunteer crew members who come from all walks of life. We operate two lifeboats: The Severn class all weather lifeboat Spirit of Northumberland and D class inshore lifeboat Little Susie. You can find us on Facebook at Facebook.com/TynemouthRNLI or follow us on Twitter @TynemouthRNLI