Mersey-class lifeboat

{{Short description|Former RNLI lifeboat class}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}} {{Use British English|date=January 2018}} {{Infobox ship |sclass=2 |section1={{Infobox ship/image |image= File:Mersey class RNLI lifeboat 12-20 Leonard Kent (ON 1177) Newcastle Co. Down 11 Jan 2026.jpg |image_caption= Final launch of 12-20 ''Leonard Kent'' (ON 1177) at Newcastle, County Down, 11 January 2026 }}

|section2={{Infobox ship/class overview |name= Mersey Class |builders= *A1 Shipbuilders *William Osborne, Littlehampton, *FBM Marine, Hamble *Souters Marine, Cowes *Green Marine, Lymington |operators=*border|23px Royal National Lifeboat Institution *ADES Uruguay *Bote Salvavidas de Valparaiso, Chile |class_before= {{Lbb|Rother}}, {{Lbb|Oakley}} |class_after= {{Lbb|Shannon}}, {{Lbc|B|Atlantic 85}} |subclasses= |cost=£430,000–£704,230 |built_range=1986–1993 |in_service_range=1988–present |in_commission_range= |total_ships_building= |total_ships_planned= |total_ships_completed=38 |total_ships_canceled= |total_ships_active=4 |total_ships_laid_up= |total_ships_lost= |total_ships_retired=34 |total_ships_preserved=1 }}

|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics |hide_header= |header_caption= |class= |displacement={{convert|14.3|t|LT|abbr=on}} |length={{convert|11.62|m|ft|abbr=on}} |beam={{convert|4.0|m|ft|abbr=on}} |draught={{convert|1.02|m|ft|abbr=on}} |propulsion=2 × {{convert|285|hp|kW|abbr=on}} Caterpillar 3208T diesel engines |speed={{convert|17|kn|mph km/h|lk=in}} |range={{convert|240|nmi|km|lk=in|abbr=on}} |endurance=10.25 hours approx. at cruising speed |capacity=43 survivors (self-righting up to 21) |complement=6 |notes= }} }} '''Mersey-class lifeboats''' are a class of All-weather lifeboats, originally operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). Introduced in 1988, 38 of this class of lifeboat would come to operate from stations around the coasts of Great Britain and Ireland. They are capable of operating at up to {{Convert|17|kn|km/h}} and can be launched from a carriage or by slipway.

The class name comes from the River Mersey which flows into the Irish Sea in north west England.

==History== During the 1960s and 1970s the RNLI introduced fast lifeboats capable of considerable greater speeds than the {{Convert|8|kn|km/h}} of existing designs. The first of these were only able to be kept afloat as their propellers would be damaged if launched using a slipway or carriage. In 1982 the steel-hulled {{Lbc|Tyne}} came into service, which could be launched down a slipway, but weighed 25 tons, and so was not suitable for being moved across a beach on a carriage. The answer was to build a smaller boat with an aluminium hull, which became the Mersey-class.<ref>{{cite book |last=Wake-Walker |first=Edward |author2=Deane, Heather |author3=Purches, Georgette |title= Lifeboat! Royal National Lifeboat Institution |year= 1989 |publisher= Ian Allan |location= Shepperton |isbn= 0711018359 |pages= 38–43 }}</ref>

The first prototype Mersey (ON 1119) was built in 1986, but was never named or given an operational number. After trials during 1987 and 1988, the unnamed boat was never placed on station, and was sold in 1989. Two more boats were built in 1988, with the first one to take up active service going to Bridlington Lifeboat Station the following year.<ref name="LBES 2026">{{cite book |last1=Leonard |first1=Richie |last2=Denton |first2=Tony |title=Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2026 |date=2026 |publisher=Lifeboats Enthusiasts' Society |pages=48-51}}</ref>

In 1989, 12-11 ''Lifetime Care'' (ON 1148) was built with a fibre-reinforced composite (FRC) hull. Boats built in 1990 continued to use aluminium but from 1991 FRC became the standard hull material.<ref name="LBES 2026"/><ref name="Story">{{cite book |last=Wake-Walker |first=Edward |title=The Lifeboats Story |year=2008 |publisher=Sutton Publishing |location=Stroud |isbn=9780750948586 |page=69 }}</ref>

On Wednesday 13 December 2023, Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh joined RNLI representatives at Windsor Castle for the handover of RNLB 12-30 ''Her Majesty The Queen'' (ON 1189) to the Chatham Historic Dockyard for temporary display.<ref name="12-30">{{cite web |title=HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh joins RNLI for retirement of HM The Queen lifeboat |url=https://rnli.org/news-and-media/2023/december/13/hrh-the-duchess-of-edinburgh-joins-rnli-for-retirement-of-hm-the-queen-lifeboat?fbclid=IwAR0gfKwDzbDM1u5uARUjKJ0go8m0YgpvpRC_5mzWDZ1j5sZIIIzM_mZa8-k |publisher=RNLI |access-date=13 December 2023}}</ref>

The RNLI intended to have 25 knot lifeboats at all offshore lifeboat stations by the end of 2019, and the first of the {{Lbc|Shannon}} lifeboats replaced the Mersey lifeboats at Dungeness, Exmouth and Hoylake in 2014. It would be eleven years later, when the last Mersey-class lifeboat in RNLI service, 12-20 Leonard Kent (ON 1177), at {{Lbs|Newcastle}}, was formally withdrawn from service on 18 December 2025.<ref name="LBES 2026"/>

Four former RNLI Mersey-class boats are still in service overseas, three operated by ADES Uruguay, and one by Bote Salvavidas de Valparaiso in Chile.<ref name="LBES 2026"/>

==Description== The Mersey is designed to be launched from a carriage, but can also lie afloat or be slipway launched when required. Its propellers are fully protected from damage when launching or in shallow water, by partial tunnels and two bilge keels. Its low height can be further reduced by collapsing its mast and aerials which then allows it to be stored in a boathouse. A sealed cabin gives it a self-righting ability.

Power comes from two 3208T Caterpillar turbo-charged marine diesel engines giving 285 hp at 2,800 rpm. It carries {{Convert|1110|l|gal}} of fuel to give it a range of {{Convert|240|nmi|km}}. It has a crew of six and can carry an inflatable X-boat which it can deploy at sea. Its survivor compartment can carry 43 people, but more than 21 prevents self-righting should the boat capsize.<ref name="Story"/><ref name="Mersey-class">{{cite web |title=Mersey class lifeboat |url=https://rnli.org/what-we-do/lifeboats-and-stations/our-lifeboat-fleet/mersey-class-lifeboat |publisher=RNLI |access-date=9 July 2025}}</ref>

==Gallery== <gallery> File:Wells-Next-The-Sea Lifeboat Coming Home.jpg|Launching from a carriage and Talus MB-H amphibious tractor File:Swanage lifeboat on its slipway 1.JPG|Launching from a slipway File:Swanage lifeboat on its slipway 2.JPG|Stern showing the protected propellers File:Lifeboat Engines.JPG|Engine room </gallery>

All of the following fleet details are referenced to the 2026 Lifeboat Enthusiasts' Society Handbook, with information retrieved directly from RNLI records.<ref name="LBES 2026"/>

==RNLI fleet== {|class="wikitable" ! ON{{efn|name=ON|ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.}} ! Op. No.{{efn|name=Op|Op.No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.}} ! Name ! Built ! {{nowrap|In Service<ref name="LBES 2026"/>}} ! Station / Launch method ! Comments<ref name="LBES 2026"/><ref name="LBL3">{{cite book |last1=Morris |first1=Jeff |title=List of British Life-boats Part 3 |date=2008 |publisher=Lifeboat Enthusiasts' Society |pages=72–75 |edition=Third}}</ref><ref name="Marine">{{cite web |title=Marine Traffic |url=https://www.marinetraffic.com/}}</ref> |- | 1119 | – | {{small|Unnamed}} | 1986 | 1987–1988 | Trials | Sold 1989. Named ''Keelman'', later ''Spirit''. Sold December 2025, for restoration in Cork, County Cork |- | rowspan="2"|1125 | rowspan="2"|{{nowrap|12-002}} | rowspan="2"|''Sealink Endeavour'' | rowspan="2"|1987 | 1987–1989 | Trials | rowspan="2"|<ref group=Note>Funded from promotion by Sealink British Ferries Lts, legacies of Dr W, R. H. Murphy and Mrs D. M. Kellett, plus other gifts, built by A1 Shipbuilders / William Osborne, costing £498,925.</ref> Sold 2020. Renamed ''Endeavour''. Workboat with Ambrey Shipyards at Hythe Marine, Hampshire, March 2025. |- | 1989–2018 | {{Lbs|Hastings}} (Carriage) |- | rowspan="6"|1124 | rowspan="6"|12-001 | rowspan="6"|''Peggy and Alex Caird'' | rowspan="6"|1988 | 1988–1995 | {{Lbs|Bridlington}} (Carriage) | rowspan="6"|<ref group=Note>Legacy of Mrs M. M. Caird, plus other gifts, built by A1 Shipbuilders / William Osborne, costing £498,925.</ref> Sold 2015. {{nowrap|Renamed ''Mersey Rose''}} with Needles Pleasure Cruises. Sold 2017. Renamed ''Orange Apex'', with Orange Force Marine Ltd and Coast Guard Auxiliary Vessel, Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada. Sold October 2023. Renamed ''Life Aquatic 12-001'', at Lake Champlain, South Hero, Vermont, USA, December 2023. |- | 1995–1999 | Relief fleet |- | 1999 | {{Lbs|Lytham St Annes}} (Carriage) |- | 1999–2009 | Relief fleet |- | 2009–2010 | {{Lbs|Bembridge}} (Carriage) |- | 2010–2015 | Relief fleet |- | rowspan="5"|1148 | rowspan="5"|12-11 | rowspan="5"|''Lifetime Care'' | rowspan="5"|1988 | 1989–1990 | Relief fleet | rowspan="5"|<ref group=Note>Gift of Volvo Concessionaires Ltd, (promotion), built by Green Marine / Souters, costing £550,000.</ref> Sold 2017. Workboat for McMullen Shellfish, Glenariffe Harbour, County Antrim, August 2025. |- | 1990–1991 | Workington No.2 (Carriage) |- | 1991–2012 | Relief fleet |- | 2012 | {{Lbs|Leverburgh}} (Afloat) |- | 2012–2017 | Relief fleet |- | 1161 | 12-003 | ''Doris M. Mann of Ampthill'' | 1990 | 1990–2023 | {{Lbs|Wells-next-the-Sea}} (Carriage) | <ref group=Note>Legacy of Mrs D. M. Mann, built by FBM Ltd, costing £468,209.</ref> Sold 2023. Last reported as Progreso, Yucatán, Mexico, December 2023. |- | rowspan="3"|1162 | rowspan="3"|12-004 | rowspan="3"|''Royal Shipwright'' | rowspan="3"|1990 | 1990–2007 | Relief fleet | rowspan="3"|<ref group=Note>Gift of the Worshipful Company of Shipwrights, plus other gifts and legacies, built by FBM Ltd, costing £430,000.</ref> Sold 2016. Renamed ''Patricia''. Survey Pilot Vessel, laid up at Mostyn Docks, July 2025. MMSI 232002744 |- | 2007–2008 | {{Lbs|Cromer}} (Carriage) |- | 2008–2016 | Relief fleet |- | rowspan="2"|1163 | rowspan="2"|12-005 | rowspan="2"|''Lady of Hilbre'' | rowspan="2"|1990 | 1990–2014 | {{Lbs|Hoylake}} (Carriage) | rowspan="2"|<ref group=Note>Gift of the Mersey LB appeal, built by FBM Ltd, costing £430,556.</ref> Sold 2022. Stored at Medway Bridge Marina, October 2025. |- | 2014–2021 | Relief fleet |- | rowspan="2"|1164 | rowspan="2"|12-006 | rowspan="2"|''Andy Pearce'' | rowspan="2"|1990 | 1990–2017 | {{Lbs|Llandudno}} (Carriage) | rowspan="2"|<ref group=Note>Legacy of Mr A. S. Pearce, plus other gifts and legacies, built by FBM Ltd, costing £429,494.</ref> Sold 2019. Renamed ''Njord''. Boat trips/charter at Burwick, Orkney, June 2023. |- | 2017–2018 | Relief fleet |- | rowspan="2"|1165 | rowspan="2"|12-007 | rowspan="2"|''Spirit of Derbyshire'' | rowspan="2"|1990 | 1990–2015 | {{Lbs|Ilfracombe}} (Carriage) | rowspan="2"|<ref group=Note>Funded from the 'Spirit of Derbyshire' LB appeal, an appeal by Ilfracombe branch, plus other gifts and legacies, built by A1 Shipbuilders / William Osborne, costing £444,498.</ref> Sold 2015. Renamed ''Mercy''. Harbour workboat at Valletta, Malta, October 2025. MMSI 215000129. |- | 2015 | Relief fleet |- | rowspan="2"|1166 | rowspan="2"|12-008 | rowspan="2"|''Lincolnshire Poacher'' | rowspan="2"|1990 | 1990–2017 | {{Lbs|Skegness}} (Carriage) | rowspan="2"|<ref group=Note>Funded from the Lincolnshire LB appeal, plus major contribution from the 'John and Lucille Van Geest Charitable Trust', built by A1 Shipbuilders / Souters, costing £460,212.</ref> Sold 2021. Renamed ''Bailiwick Reliance'', at St Peter Port. Sold February 2024. Renamed ''Samuel Wesley''. Workboat (Memorial services) at Dartmouth, Devon, December 2025. MMSI 232003204. |- | 2017–2021 | Relief fleet |- | rowspan="2"|1167 | rowspan="2"|12-009 | rowspan="2"|''The Princess Royal'' {{nowrap|''(Civil Service No.41)''}} | rowspan="2"|1990 | 1990–2015 | {{Lbs|St Ives}} (Carriage) | rowspan="2"|<ref group=Note>Gift of CISPOTEL, built by A1 Shipbuilders / William Osborne, costing £445,432.</ref> Sold 1 June 2016. Renamed ''Ulidia''. Workboat with Coleraine Harbour Commissioners, November 2025. MMSI 232003618. |- | 2015–2016 | Relief fleet |- | rowspan="2"|1168 | rowspan="2"|12-010 | rowspan="2"|''Lily and Vincent Anthony'' | rowspan="2"|1990 | 1991–2021 | {{Lbs|Pwllheli}} (Carriage) | rowspan="2"|<ref group=Note>Legacy of Miss A. Anthony, built by A1 Shipbuilders / Souters, costing £552,881.</ref> Sold November 2023. Renamed ''Charles Wesley''. Workboat (Memorial services) based in Dartmouth, December 2025. |- | 2021–2023 | Relief fleet |- | rowspan="3"|1169 | rowspan="3"|12-12 | rowspan="3"|''Marine Engineer'' | rowspan="3"|1991 | 1990–1995 | Relief fleet | rowspan="3"|<ref group=Note>Gift of the Institute of Marine Engineers, built by Green Marine / FBM Ltd, costing £650,000.</ref> Sold January 2024. Last reported at (PUUR), Amsterdam, August 2025. |- | 1995–2018 | {{Lbs|Bridlington}} (Carriage) |- | 2018–2022 | {{Lbs|Douglas}} (Slipway) |- | rowspan="2"|1170 | rowspan="2"|12-13 | rowspan="2"|''Keep Fit Association'' | rowspan="2"|1991 | 1991–2021 | {{Lbs|Filey}} (Carriage) | rowspan="2"|<ref group=Note>Funded by the 'Keep Fit Association' LB appeal, the Filey LB appeal, plus other gifts and legacies, built by Green Marine / FBM Ltd, costing £651,481.</ref> Sold May 2024. Renamed ''Storm Siren II'' on 21 November 2024. Pilot Boat with Teignmouth Harbour Authority, April 2025.<ref name="Storm Siren II">{{cite news |title=Naming and Blessing of new Pilot boat “Storm Siren II” |url=https://teignmouthharbour.com/naming-and-blessing-of-new-pilot-boat-storm-siren-ii/ |access-date=10 January 2025 |publisher=Teignmouth Harbour Commission |date=28 November 2024}}</ref> MMSI 232056713. |- | 2021–2024 | Relief fleet |- | rowspan="2"|1171 | rowspan="2"|12-14 | rowspan="2"|''Ann and James Ritchie'' | rowspan="2"|1991 | 1991–2019 | {{Lbs|Ramsey}} (Carriage) | rowspan="2"|<ref group=Note>Legacy of Mrs A, Ritchie, built by Green Marine / FBM Ltd, costing £577,746.</ref> Sold 2022. Renamed ''James Stevens''. Pilot Boat at New Ross, Co. Wexford, Ireland, December 2025. MMSI 250013635. |- | 2019–2021 | Relief fleet |- | rowspan="3"|1172 | rowspan="3"|12-15 | rowspan="3"|''Frank and Lena Clifford of Stourbridge'' | rowspan="3"|1991 | 1992–2023 | {{Lbs|New Quay}} (Carriage) | rowspan="3"|<ref group=Note>Legacy of Mr F. Clifford, plus other gifts and legacies, built by Green Marine / FBM Ltd, costing £649,376.</ref> MMSI 232002726. |- | 2023–2024 | Relief fleet |- | 2024–2025 | {{Lbs|Douglas}} (Afloat) |- | 1173 | 12-16 | ''Grace Darling'' | 1991 | 1991–2020 | {{Lbs|Seahouses}} (Carriage) | <ref group=Note>Funded by the 'Grace Darling Anniversary appeal', plus other gifts and legacies, built by Green Marine / FBM Ltd, costing £652,978.</ref> Sold 2021. See ADES Uruguay below. |- | 1174 | 12-17 | ''Kingdom of Fife'' | 1991 | 1991–2024 | {{Lbs|Anstruther}} (Carriage) | <ref group=Note>Funded by a local appeal, the 'Doctors appeal', the 'Cotton Trust', the legacy of Dr Allen, plus other gifts and legacies, built by Green Marine / FBM Ltd, costing £655,000.</ref> Withdrawn from service, 27 August 2024. Sold April 2025. Workboat (Memorial services) with Wesley group, stored at Portland, December 2025. MMSI 232002250.<ref name="ON 1174">{{cite news |title=After 33 years in Scotland, the Mersey-class lifeboat bows out in Anstruther |url=https://rnli.org/news-and-media/2024/august/27/after-33-years-in-scotland-the-merseyclass-lifeboat-bows-out-in-anstruther |access-date=22 September 2025 |publisher=RNLI |date=27 August 2024}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2"|1175 | rowspan="2"|12-18 | rowspan="2"|''Fanny Victoria Wilkinson and Frank Stubbs'' | rowspan="2"|1991 | 1991–2016 | {{Lbs|Scarborough}} (Carriage) | rowspan="2"|<ref group=Note>Legacy of Mr F. Stubbs, built by Green Marine / FBM Ltd, costing £653,911.</ref> Sold 2018. See Bote Salvavidas de Valparaiso, Chile below:– |- | 2016–2018 | Relief fleet |- | rowspan="4"|1176 | rowspan="4"|12-19 | rowspan="4"|''The Four Boys'' | rowspan="4"|1991 | 1991–1998 | {{Lbs|Sennen Cove}} (Slipway) | rowspan="4"|<ref group=Note>Funded by the 'Lands End LB appeal', the 'Sennen Cove' LB appeal, the 'London Broadcasting Co. appeal', plus legacies of Mr Holland and Mrs Hiddleston, and other gifts, built by Green Marine / FBM Ltd, costing £655,250.</ref> Sold 2018. Renamed ''The Four Boys of Pendennis''. Workboat in Falmouth. Sold ????. Renamed ''Marieanne''. Survey Pilot Vessel at Mostyn Docks, December 2024. MMSI 232020008. |- | 1998–1999 | Relief fleet |- | 1999–2016 | {{Lbs|Amble}} (Afloat) |- | 2016–2017 | Relief fleet |- | rowspan="2"|1177 | rowspan="2"|{{nowrap|12-20}} | rowspan="2"|''Leonard Kent'' | rowspan="2"|1991 | 1991–2021 | {{Lbs|Margate}} (Carriage) | rowspan="2"|<ref group=Note>Legacy of Mr L. F. Kent, plus the Margate LB appeal, plus other gifts and legacies, built by Green Marine / FBM Ltd, costing £629,121.</ref> Retired from service, 18 December 2025. MMSI 232002280. |- | 2022–2025 | {{Lbs|Newcastle}} (Carriage) |- | rowspan="5"|1178 | rowspan="5"|12-21 | rowspan="5"|''Margaret Jean'' | rowspan="5"|1992 | 1992–1998 | Relief fleet | rowspan="5"|<ref group=Note>Gift of Peter and Jean Bath, built by Green Marine / FBM Ltd, costing £629,121.</ref> Sold 2020. Renamed ''Arwen Myrtle''. At St Peter Port, Guernsey, November 2025. MMSI 232002290. |- | 1998–1999 | {{Lbs|Lytham St Annes}} (Carriage) |- | 1999–2008 | Relief fleet |- | 2008–2014 | {{Lbs|Exmouth}} (Carriage) |- | 2014–2020 | Relief fleet |- | rowspan="4"|1181 | rowspan="4"|12-22 | rowspan="4"|''Ruby Clery'' | rowspan="4"|1992 | 1992–2019 | {{Lbs|Peel}} (Carriage) | rowspan="4"|<ref group=Note>Gift of Miss R. Clery, built by Green Marine / Souters, costing £662,663.</ref> Retired from service, 30 November 2025. MMSI 232002727. |- | 2019–2022 | {{Lbs|Ramsey}} (Carriage) |- | 2022–2024 | {{Lbs|Douglas}} (Slipway) |- | 2025 | {{Lbs|Douglas}} (Afloat) |- | rowspan="2"|1182 | rowspan="2"|12-23 | rowspan="2"|''Robert Charles Brown'' | rowspan="2"|1992 | 1992–2016 | {{Lbs|Swanage}} (Slipway) | rowspan="2"|<ref group=Note>Funded by a regional appeal, plus other gifts and legacies, built by Green Marine / FBM Ltd, costing £669,043.</ref> Sold 2019. Renamed ''Atlantic''. As ''Robert Charles'' at Zaandam, Netherlands, December 2025. MMSI 244071803. |- | 2016–2019 | Relief fleet |- | 1183 | 12-24 | ''Lil Cunningham'' | 1992 | 1992–2019 | {{Lbs|Rhyl}} (Carriage) | <ref group=Note>Gift of Miss B. H. I. Cunningham, built by Green Marine / Souters, costing £640,092.</ref> Sold 2020. Renamed ''Ellen Rodger''. Workboat with Calypso Marine, Stored Burntisland, Fife, June 2025. MMSI 232002741. |- | 1184 | 12-25 | ''Bingo Lifeline'' | 1992 | 1992–2020 | Relief fleet | <ref group=Note>Gift of the Bingo Assoc. of Gt. Britain, the legacy of Mrs A. Mills, gift of the Royal Bank of Scotland plc, plus other gifts and legacies, built by Green Marine / FBM Ltd, costing £660,000.</ref> Sold 2021. See ADES Uruguay below. |- | 1185 | 12-26 | ''Moira Barrie'' | 1992 | 1992–2019 | {{Lbs|Barmouth}} (Carriage) | <ref group=Note>Legacy of Miss M. Barrie, plus other gifts and legacies, built by Green Marine / William Osborne, costing £683,097.</ref> Sold 2020. Renamed ''Arwen''. Ferry Boat for Western Isles Cruises, Mallaig. Sold ???? Renamed MV ''Acua Ocean''. Workboat for ACUA Ocean Ltd, operating from Plymouth, Devon, December 2025. MMSI 232030482. |- | rowspan="3"|1186 | rowspan="3"|12-27 | rowspan="3"|''Pride and Spirit'' | rowspan="3"|1992 | 1992–2014 | {{Lbs|Dungeness}} (Carriage) | rowspan="3"|<ref group=Note>Gift of Mr and Mrs E, Cass, built by Green Marine / Souters, costing £645,034.</ref> Sold 2021. See ADES Uruguay below. |- | 2014–2016 | {{Lbs|Clifden}} (Afloat) |- | 2016–2019 | Relief fleet |- | rowspan="4"|1187 | rowspan="4"|12-28 | rowspan="4"|''Mary Margaret'' | rowspan="4"|1992 | 1992–2004 | {{Lbs|Kilmore Quay}} (Afloat) | rowspan="4"|<ref group=Note>Legacies of Mr D. A. S. Williams and Mrs M. M. Williams, built by Green Marine / William Osborne, costing £678,261.</ref> Sold 2023. Renamed ''Pisces'', March 2024. Workboat, Yarmouth, IOW, December 2025. |- | 2004–2019 | Relief fleet |- | 2019–2022 | {{Lbs|Peel}} (Afloat) |- | 2022–2023 | Relief fleet |- | rowspan="2"|1188 | rowspan="2"|12-29 | rowspan="2"|''Eleanor and Bryant Girling'' | rowspan="2"|1992 | 1993–2022 | {{Lbs|Newcastle}} (Carriage) | rowspan="2"|<ref group=Note>Legacy of Mrs E, B. Girling, built by Green Marine / FBM Ltd, costing £704,230.</ref> Sold 2022. Renamed ''The Mersey'' (3-YG-894). At Leeuwarden, Netherlands, May 2025. MMSI 244729436.<ref name="The Mersey">{{cite web |title=Marine Traffic The Mersey |url=https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:7538866/mmsi:244729436/imo:0/vessel:THE_MERSEY |access-date=22 Nov 2023}}</ref> |- | 2022 | Relief fleet |- | rowspan="5"|1189 | rowspan="5"|12-30 | rowspan="5"|''Her Majesty The Queen'' | rowspan="5"|1992 | 1993–1996 | Relief fleet | rowspan="5"|<ref group=Note>Funded from the appeal to the Police Forces of Gt. Britain, plus other gifts and legacies, built by Green Marine / Souters, costing £650,000.</ref> On display at Chatham Historic Dockyard, 2023. Returned to RNLI HQ at Poole, 2024, Stored, December 2025.<ref name="12-30"/> |- | 1996–1999 | {{Lbs|Cromer}} (Carriage) |- | 1999 | Relief fleet |- | 1999–2018 | {{Lbs|Lytham St Annes}} (Carriage) |- | 2018–2021 | Relief fleet |- | 1190 | 12-31 | ''Doris Bleasdale'' | 1992 | 1993–2019 | {{Lbs|Clogherhead}} (Carriage) | <ref group=Note>Legacy of Mrs D. Bleasdale, built by Green Marine / William Osborne, costing £671,910.</ref> Sold 2020. Renamed ''Knot on Call'', December 2022. Pleasure boat at Tenby, Pembrokeshire. Sold April 2025 Renamed ''John Jacques'', Pilot boat at Glasson Dock, August 2025. MMSI 232031477. |- | rowspan="3"|1191 | rowspan="3"|12-32 | rowspan="3"|''Joy and Charles Beeby'' | rowspan="3"|1992 | 1993–2023 | {{nowrap|{{Lbs|Berwick-upon-Tweed}}}} (Slipway) | rowspan="3"|<ref group=Note>Legacy of Mr C. Beeby, built by Green Marine / FBM Ltd, costing £680,000.</ref> Sold July 2024. Renamed ''John Wesley'', Workboat (memorial services), based in Dartmouth, Devon, April 2025. |- | 2023–2024 | {{Lbs|Douglas}} (Slipway) |- | 2024 | Relief fleet |- | rowspan="4"|1192 | rowspan="4"|12-33 | rowspan="4"|''Fisherman's Friend'' | rowspan="4"|1993 | 1993–1999 | Relief fleet | rowspan="4"|<ref group=Note>Funded from the special appeal by Lofthouse of Fleetwood Ltd, plus other gifts and legacies, built by Green Marine / Souters, costing £650,000.</ref> Sold 2020. Survey Vessel, Galway, Ireland, Crosshaven, March 2024. MMSI 232002576. |- | 1999 | {{Lbs|Lytham St Annes}} (Carriage) |- | 1999–2016 | Relief fleet |- | 2016–2019 | {{Lbs|Clifden}} (Afloat) |- | 1193 | 12-34 | ''Freddie Cooper'' | 1992 | 1993–2024 | {{Lbs|Aldeburgh}} (Carriage) | <ref group=Note>Legacy of Mrs W. M. Cooper, built by Green Marine / FBM Ltd, costing £674,776.</ref> Withdrawn from service, 14 October 2024. Departure from Aldeburgh, 27 October 2024. Sold Feb 2025. Renamed ''Mary Wesley'', Workboat (Memorial services) based at Portland, March 2025. MMSI 232003208.<ref name="Goodbye">{{cite news |last1=Litt |first1=Jo |title=Aldeburgh RNLI to bid farewell to 'Freddie Cooper' with fitting send off |url=https://rnli.org/news-and-media/2024/october/07/aldeburgh-rnli-to-bid-farewell-to-freddie-cooper-with-fitting-send-off |access-date=11 October 2024 |publisher=RNLI |date=7 October 2024}}</ref> |- | 1194 | 12-35 | ''Inchcape'' | 1993 | 1993–2024 | {{Lbs|Arbroath}} (Slipway) | <ref group=Note>Funded by a local appeal, plus other gifts and legacies, built by Green Marine / FBM Ltd, costing £680,000.</ref> Withdrawn from service, 17 March 2024. Sold 2024. Renamed ''Emilia Wesley'', workboat (Memorial services), based at Portland Marina, September 2025.<ref name="ON 1194">{{cite news |last1=Macnamara |first1=Martin |title=Arbroath RNLI bid farewell to the Mersey-class lifeboat after 30 years’ service |url=https://rnli.org/news-and-media/2024/march/15/arbroath-rnli-bid-farewell-to-the-mersey-class-lifeboat-after-30-years-service |access-date=22 September 2025 |publisher=RNLI |date=15 March 2024}}</ref> |- | rowspan="3"|1195 | rowspan="3"|12-36 | rowspan="3"|''Royal Thames'' | rowspan="3"|1993 | 1993–2012 | {{Lbs|Eastbourne}} (Afloat) | rowspan="3"|<ref group=Note>Funded by the Royal Thames Yacht Club appeal, a generous anonymous gift, plus other gifts and legacies, built by Green Marine / William Osborne, costing £680,000.</ref> Sold Jan 2021. Renamed ''Sea Searcher'', Survey Safety Vessel with deeperdorset.co.uk. Sold Oct 2022?. Survey Safety / Dive Vessel at Holyhead, November 2025. |- | 2012–2018 | {{Lbs|Leverburgh}} (Afloat) |- | 2018 | Relief fleet |- | 1196 | 12-37 | ''Silvia Burrell'' | 1993 | 1993–2018 | {{Lbs|Girvan}} (Afloat) | <ref group=Note>Legacy of Miss S. Burrell, built by Green Marine / Souters, costing £680,000.</ref> Sold August 2021. Renamed ''Ailsa Craig''. At Island Harbour Marina, IOW, October 2025. |- |} {{notelist}}

===Uruguay=== ADES Uruguay is an Honorary Lifesaving Institution founded in 1955. Its volunteers train weekly to go to sea with the sole purpose of helping whoever requests help. The rescues have no cost to the beneficiaries. At the national level ADES Uruguay is part of the National Emergency Committee and at the international level it is part of the IMRF (International Maritime Rescue Federation)<ref name="ADES Uruguay">{{cite web |title=ADES Uruguay |url=https://www.ades.org.uy/ |access-date=27 November 2023}}</ref>

{|class="wikitable" ! RNLI ON ! Name ! {{nowrap|In Service<ref name="LBES 2026"/>}} ! Station ! MMSI<ref name="Marine"/> ! Comments<ref name="LBES 2026"/> |- | 1173 | ''ADES 28 Grace Darling'' | 2021– | Colonia del Sacramento | 232002240 | |- | 1184 | {{nowrap|''ADES 29 BROU 125 Anniversario''}} | 2021– | Montevideo | 232002573 | |- | 1186 | ''ADES 30'' | 2021– | Punta del Este | 232003202 | |- |}

===Chile=== Operated by Bote Salvavidas de Valparaiso, Chile {|class="wikitable" ! RNLI ON ! Name ! {{nowrap|In Service<ref name="LBES 2026"/>}} ! Station ! Comments<ref name="LBES 2026"/> |- | 1175 | {{nowrap|''Valparaiso IV''}} | 2018– | Valparaiso | Images of 12-28 in Chile are [https://www.thescarboroughnews.co.uk/news/photos-see-old-scarborough-lifeboat-enjoy-new-life-in-chile-1-9857558 here], still in near RNLI colours. |- |}

==Notes== {{Reflist|group=Note}}

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == {{Commons category|Mersey class lifeboats}} * [https://rnli.org/what-we-do/lifeboats-and-stations/our-lifeboat-fleet/mersey-class-lifeboat RNLI Fleet: Mersey Class]

Category:Mersey-class lifeboats