1988: The Mersey class lifeboat

The Mersey class lifeboat – the RNLI’s first fast carriage lifeboat – was a lightweight sea-going boat designed for launching from the beach.

Capable of 17.5 knots, this 12m-long all-weather lifeboat could also operate off a slipway or lie afloat.

First launched from Hastings Beach in July 1988, the aluminium-hulled Mersey – later changed to fibre-reinforced plastic – was inherently self-righting.

The propellers and rudders laid in partial tunnels set into the hull. These, along with the main and two bilge keels, provided protection from damage in shallow water or slipway operations. The mast and aerials could be collapsed to fit into a boathouse.

Thirty-seven Mersey lifeboats were built between 1988 and 1994. Popular with its crews, the Mersey was the final piece of the jigsaw in our plan to complete the introduction of fast lifeboats by 1993.

In 2013, the Shannon class all-weather lifeboat was introduced to the RNLI fleet, which started to gradually replace the Mersey class. 

The Mersey class lifeboat left the RNLI fleet in 2026. Its retirement means the entire RNLI fleet can now reach a speed of 25 knots, meaning crews can get to casualties much quicker.

During its lifespan, the Mersey spent 24,804 hours at sea across 52 lifeboat stations. In all, the Mersey saved 1,254 lives, aided 13,784 people and launched 11,813 times. Newcastle RNLI bade farewell to the last operational Mersey class lifeboat on Sunday 11 January 2026.