E Class Lifeboats

E-08 speeding away from Chiswick Pier. Photo Credit: watchandshoot_lifeboats

The E class inshore lifeboat is the fastest in the RNLI fleet and was specially designed for London’s busy River Thames.

With its powerful tidal currents, submerged debris and heavy traffic, the River Thames can be incredibly dangerous for those on and by the water and the E class lifeboat was designed to handle these river conditions.

The class was introduced in 2002 to serve the tidal reach of the River Thames, which had not previously been covered by an RNLI rescue service.

There are currently three different versions of the E-class, described as the mark I, mark II and mark III.

E Class Facts

Introduced: 2002-2005 (MkI), 2011-2012 (MkII), 2019-present (MkIII)

Length: 9m (MkI), 10.5m (MkII)

Width: 2.94m (MkI), 2.9m without collar; 3.5m with collar (MkII)

Load: 3.86 tonnes

Launch Type: Afloat

Fuel Capacity: 520 litres (MkI), 500 Litres (MkII)

Crew: 3 (MkI) 4 (MkII) 4 (MkIII)

Range: 4 hours (MKI), 3 hours (MkII) at maxium speed

Engines:

Mk1 – 2 x Steyr 246 marine diesel engines - 240hp each at 4,100rpm - with propulsion from Hamilton waterjets

Mk2 – 2 x Volvo D6 435 marine diesel engines - 435hp each, 3,300 rpm at 40 knots - with propulsion from Hamilton waterjets