The H-class rescue hovercraft serve the shores of the United Kingdom as a part of the RNLI inshore fleet. Currently none of the H-class serve at Irish stations. Designed around the RNLI's requirements the H-class modified Type 470TD design built by Griffon Hoverwork. (H-001 is Type 460TD).

Typically, the hovercraft operates on large areas of tidal mudflats or sand where the surface is too soft to support land vehicles and where the water is too shallow for boats.

Before rescue hovercraft were introduced into the fleet in 2002, the only method of rapid access to areas like mudflats and quicksand was by helicopter. And surface access was limited to walking, using mud mats and crawling boards.