Name B-class (Atlantic 21) Succeeded by B-class (Atlantic 75) | Preceded by C-class Built 1969–1994 | |
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Builders Inshore Lifeboat Centre, Cowes Operators Royal National Lifeboat Institution | ||
The Atlantic 21 is part of the B-class of lifeboats that served the shores of the United Kingdom and Ireland as part of the RNLI inshore fleet. The Atlantic 21 was the first generation Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB), first developed at Atlantic College in South Wales.
Nearly all of the Atlantic 21s have been retired from service by 2006, one of the notable exceptions to this being the boat allocated to Walmer in Kent. RNLB James Burgess (B-589) was retired to the relief fleet in December 2006, it was replaced by a B-class (Atlantic 85).
Description
The Atlantic 21 can be launched from either a davit, trolley or from a floating boathouse depending on the location of the station and the available facilities.
The boat carries a variety of equipment which includes two VHF radios, First Aid Kit & oxygen, GPS navigation system, night vision equipment, self-righting system, anchor and various warps, toolkit, towing system, illuminating and distress pyrotechnics, spotlight, torches.
The rollbar assembly installed above the engines contains a self-righting bag which is operated by a member of the crew activating a gas bottle.