H Class Rescue Hovercraft
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RNLI Southend-on-Sea hovercraft H-004 Vera Ravine by Southend Pier. Photo: RNLI
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.
H-class Facts
Introduced: 2002
Construction: Marine-grade aluminium with moulded fibre-reinforce composite (FRC)
Length: 7.75m
Width: 3.36m
Launch Type: From transporter and slipway
Fuel Capacity: 127 litres
Crew: 2-4
Range: 3 hours at full speed
Engines: 2 x VW 1.9 turbo diesel engines
Op. No. | Name | Year Built | Service History |
|---|---|---|---|
H-001 | Molly Rayner | 2000 | Trials 2000-2002 Relief 2002 to date |
H-002 | The Hurley Flyer | 2002 | Morecambe 2002 to date |
H-003 | Hunstanton Flyer (Civil Service No. 45) | 2003 | Hunstanton 2003 to date |
H-004 | Vera Ravine | 2004 | Southend-on-Sea 2004 to date |
H-005 | Hurley Spirit | 2005 | New Brighton 2005 to 2018 Hoylake 2016 to date |
H-006 | John Russell | 2005 | Relief 2005 to date |
H-007 | Samburgh | 2008 | Relief 2009 to date |
