Atlantic 21-class lifeboat


The Atlantic 21 Inshore lifeboat was the first generation rigid inflatable boat, in the B-class series of Inshore lifeboats, that were operated around the shores of the British Isles and the Channel Islands by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, between 1972 and 2008.
The Inshore boat was designed at Atlantic College in South Wales, the birthplace of the RIB, after which the craft is named. The college was also one of nine locations where the RNLI first established lifeboat stations using smaller inshore watercraft. Atlantic College Lifeboat Station was operated by the RNLI between 1963 and 2013.
The development of the Atlantic 21 resulted in the larger, with production beginning in 1993. The Atlantic 75 gradually replaced the Atlantic 21, with the majority of the ninety-six Atlantic 21 lifeboats retired from service by 2006. Just a handful remained on service into 2007 and 2008, with the last two Atlantic 21 lifeboats, at Enniskillen Lifeboat Station, both withdrawn from operational duties on 26 February 2008.

Description

The Atlantic 21 can be launched from a davit, carriage or floating boathouse depending on the location of the station and the available facilities.
The lifeboat is a rigid inflatable boat, with the hull constructed of Fibre-reinforced plastic, subdivided into water-tight compartments, and manufactured at Halmatic Ltd. of Havant. The boats are then fitted out at the RNLI Inshore Lifeboat Centre in at East Cowes, Isle of Wight. A roll-bar is fitted above the engines, which carries an inflatable air-bag for self-righting, which can be inflated by a crew-member from a gas bottle should the boat capsize.
The boat carries a variety of equipment which includes two VHF radios, first aid kit and oxygen, GPS navigation system, night vision equipment, self-righting system, anchor and various warps, toolkit, towing system, illuminating and distress pyrotechnics, spotlight, torches.

Atlantic 21 Fleet

Op.No.NameStationComments
Unnamed
B-501Unnamed
B-502Unnamed1970–1972Trials
B-503Unnamed
B-504Blue Peter I1972–1973
B-505Major Osman Gabriel
B-506Unnamed
B-507Griende1972–2005KNRM
B-508Unnamed1973–1980
B-509Unnamed
B-510Tuimelaar1973–????KNRM
B-511Co-Operative No.1
B-512U.S.Navy LeagueDamaged by vandals and scrapped
B-513William McCunn and Broom Church Youth Fellowship
B-514Sold to ICE-SAR
B-515Blue Peter II1976–1985
B-515Vee WebberSold to ICE-SAR
B-516Whitstable Branch
B-517Blue Peter I1973–1974
B-518Sole BayNow privately owned at St Helens, Isle of Wight
B-519Surrey Forester
B-520Wildenrath Whizzer
B-521Mary Livingstone
B-522Dolfijn1974–????KNRM
B-523Blue Peter I1974–1985
B-523UnnamedNow named Bay Mermaid I with Cardiff Harbour Authority
B-524Unnamed1974–????KNRM
B-525UnnamedNamed Spix's Macaw after being re-hulled in 1992.
B-525Spix's Macaw
B-526
B-527Civil Service lifeboats|Sold to Finnish Lifeboat Society
B-528Unnamed
B-529Alexander Duckham
B-530Himley Hall
B-531Foresters
B-532Guide Friendship IIISold to Finnish Lifeboat Society
B-533Unnamed
B-534Unnamed––1975. Reported to have been sold to MOD
B-535
B-535Clara T1997–20102011–present in private ownership in Szczecin, Poland named Aga B used for pleasure, training and safety boat
B-536Unnamed
B-537Unnamed
B-538Lord Brotherton
B-539Lions International District 105 SE
B-540WolverhamptonSold to ICE-SAR
B-541Elizabeth Bestwick
B-542William Yeo
B-543Round Table
B-544Catherine PlumbleySold to ICE-SAR
B-545Amelia Gregory Armstrong
B-546Independent Forester BenevolenceNow in Portugal
B-547Independent Forester Liberty1980–1998Now named Káraborg with ICE-SAR
B-548AldershotSold to Finnish Lifeboat Society, later Muhu Maritime Rescue Society
B-549BlenwatchSold to ICE-SAR
B-550City of PortsmouthSold to Estonian Maritime Rescue Organization
B-551Constance MacnaySold to Finnish Lifeboat Society
B-552Bruinvis1981–2006KNRM Ter Heyde
B-553Kirklees
B-553Dove
B-554American AmbassadorNow in Australia
B-555Long Life I
B-556Spirit of AmericaSold to Finnish Lifeboat Society
B-557Weston Centenary1983–2001Sold to Finnish Lifeboat Society
B-558Ramsgate Enterprise
B-558St. Brendan2002–2007Bantry Inshore Search & Rescue
B-559Long Life 3Now named Spirit of Tortola at British Virgin Islands
B-560British Diver1983–2000
B-561Marjorie Turner1984–2002Sold to Finnish Lifeboat Society
B-562The QuiverSold to Finnish Lifeboat Society
B-563Blue Peter IISold to Finnish Lifeboat Society
B-564Blue Peter I
B-565Manchester and District XXXII
B-566Frank and Mary Atkinson1986–2002Now named Willemtje with KNRM
B-567Percy Garon IISold to Chilean Lifeboat Service. In service as 'R-9' with Bote Salvavidas de Iquique, Chile, January 2026.
B-568Burton BrewerNow with Dorset Police
B-569Blue Peter V1986–1994
B-569Unnamed
B-570Himley Hall
B-571British Diver II
B-572Dorothy and Katherine Barr1988–2001Sold to Chilean Lifeboat Service
B-573The Lady Dart and Long Life II1988–2001Sold to Chilean Lifeboat Service
B-574Joseph B. Press
B-575John Batstone
B-576Ellis Sinclair
B-577Graham Hillier and Tony Cater
B-577Sidmouth Herald1999–2004Sidmouth Lifeboat2005–present, named Ira with Nisos Yacht Charter in the Ionian Islands, Greece
B-578The Rotary Club of Glasgow
B-579Institute of London Underwriters
B-580Leicester Challenge
B-581Andrew Mason
B-582Borough of Solihull2011 - returned to RNLI
B-583Ken Derham2021 Purchased by Safetyboat Services Ltd for use as a safety / rescue boat
B-584Youth of Ulster1991–2006
B-585Peter and Grace Ewing1991–2006
B-586Clothworker
B-587Jessie Eliza1991–2000
B-588Frank and Dorothy
B-589James Burgess2009 - Sold to Gardline
B-590Wolverson X-Ray
B-590The Dove II2011–Sandown and Shanklin
B-591Edmund and Joan WhiteSold to ICE-SAR in Eskifjordur
B-592Ernest Armstrong
B-593Valerie Hull1993–2006
B-593John Collins II2022–Bonmahon Lifeboat
B-594Herbert and Edith1993–2006
B-595Falmouth Round Table1994–2007Sold to KNRM