The Trent-class lifeboat is an All-weather lifeboat operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) from 15 stations (2026) around the coasts of Great Britain and Ireland to provide coverage up to out to sea. Introduced to service in 1994, the class is named after the River Trent, the second longest river wholly in England.

All of the following fleet details are referenced to the 2026 Lifeboat Enthusiasts' Society Handbook, with information retrieved directly from RNLI records.

History In the 1980s the RNLI's and all-weather lifeboats provided coverage out to sea, operating at up to to cover the distance in two hours in good weather. However the RNLI felt that they needed the capability to extend their coverage to radius which would require lifeboats with a top speed of . This resulted in the Trent and lifeboats.

The prototype for the Trent class was built in 1991. It was used for trials until 1994, when it was put into active service at Alderney Lifeboat Station. It remained on station there until their own boat was available in 1995, since when it has served in the relief fleet. Construction of its sister boats continued until 2004.

Unlike the contemporary Severn class, the Trent will not receive a service life extension refurbishment and will gradually be withdrawn, to be replaced mainly by lifeboats.

Design The Trent is intended to lie afloat at moorings. It has five water-tight bulkheads to create six compartments: fore peak; fore store; survivor cabin; tank space; machinery space; and aft peak steering compartment. Above these is the main deckhouse which has seats for the six crew and a doctor. This is another water-tight space which provides the boat's self-righting capability.

Designed and built by Green Marine, each boat is constructed of over thick fibre reinforced composite topsides, single laminate double hull bottoms, 4 water-tight bulkheads and prepreg epoxy, glass and Kevlar shields.

The Trent has a service life of 25 years, although current estimates appear to exceed these original operational confines due to constant on-station maintenance, periodic refitting and sporadic repairs. In comparison with its predecessors, the boat has numerous additional advantages which aid in the overall success of every launch. One detail would be its condensed hull, which allows it to operate in significantly constrained locations (such as marina berths and dense quayside scenes).

Another aspect aiding in its confined manoeuverability would be the bilge keels which aid in protecting its twin drive props. Its hull sheerline sweeps down into an area known as the 'welldeck', which helps ease the recovery of casualties onto the lifeboat. The remote location of an 'a-frame' hoist also provides additional assistance for particularly awkward recoveries (such as casualties in stretchers).

As of 2006, each Trent class lifeboat is complemented with an array of advanced technologies. Each device provides full assistance in search and rescue operations, and therefore must be of an officially high standard. The comprehensive electronics fit includes full radio equipment including Navtex Multi-Frequency, Marine Very High Frequency and DSC installations. For navigation the crew utilize an array of digital select systems including DGPS equipment, and an electronic Laserplot chart display and information system which allows complete automated management via the vessel's on-board processors (autohelm), although comparatively infrequent in practice.

Other features of Trent class lifeboats include VHF/DF, radar and weather sensors. Provisions for survivors include complete first aid equipment including the Basket and Neill Robertson stretchers, oxygen and Entonox breathing systems, ambulance pouch, thermodynamic food canisters and sick bags for ailing casualties. The Trents also have a small toilet arrangement. The afterdeck houses a salvage pump in a water-tight container for use in inter-vessel salvage, and two fire hoses allow proficient fire fighting. The Trent carries an inflatable XP-boat which is powered by a 5-hp outboard engine, and can be deployed in slight conditions to gain access to rocks or beaches when an inshore lifeboat is otherwise unavailable.

Trent-class lifeboat fleet RNLI active fleet ON Op. No. Name Built Station MMSI Comments1197Esme Anderson1994 1994–2023 232001840Legacy of Mrs E. G. Anderson, built by Green Marine / William Osborne, costing £1,025,000. 2024– 1198 14-03 Blue Peter VII 1994 1994– 232001860 Funded by the BBC TV Blue Peter Appeal, built by Green Marine / Souters Marine, costing £1,025,000. 1200 14-05 Anna Livia 1995 1995– 232001880 Funded by the Dublin Bay appeal, plus other gifts and legacies, built by Green Marine / William Osborne, costing £1,025,000.121314-151996 1996–2016 Relief fleet232002380Gift of Mrs L. Duckworth, built by Green Marine / William Osborne, costing £1,200,000.Assigned to , replacing (ON 1234), March 2025. 2016–2019 2019–2023 Relief fleet 2023–2024 2024–2025 Relief fleet 2025– 122314-19Ger Tigchelaar1996 1997–2025 232002182Legacy of Mr Frits Oppenheim, built by Green Marine / William Osborne, costing £1,200,000.Assigned to , replacing (ON 1205), February 2026. 2025–2026 Relief fleet 2026– 1224 14-20 Roy Barker II 1997 1997– 232002183 Legacy of Mr F. R. Barker, built by Green Marine / Souters Marine, costing £1,580,000.122514-21MacQuarie1997 1997–2004 232002582Legacies of Lt. Cmdr. H. MacQuarie-Stone, MBE, RD, and Mrs Mary Noond, built by Green Marine / William Osborne, costing £1,250,000.Assigned to , replacing (ON 1267), August 2023. 2004–2023 Relief fleet 2023– 1233 14-25 Austin Lidbury 1998 1998– 232003131 Legacy of Mrs Mary Lidbury, built by Green Marine / William Osborne, costing £1,200,000. 1240 14-28 Sam and Ada Moody 1999 1999– 232003138 Bequest of Ada Moody, built by Green Marine / William Osborne, costing £1,200,000.124514-29Inner Wheel II2000 2000–2006 Relief fleet232004396Funded by the Inner Wheel appeal 1997–2000, plus various other legacies, built by Green Marine / Souters Marine, costing £1,200,000.Assigned to , replacing (ON 1199), September 2024. 2006–2024 2024– 1252 14-31 Elizabeth of Glamis 2001 2001– 232004404 Legacies of Mr I. C. Low, Mr R. Bonar, Mrs M. Maynard and Mrs B. Thomson, built by Green Marine / Souters Marine, costing £1,400,000.125314-32Corinne Whiteley2001 2001–2019 Relief fleet232004405Legacy of Mrs C. Whiteley, built by Green Marine / Souters Marine, costing £1,400,000. 2019– 1258 14-33 Roy Barker III 2001 2002– 235003642 Legacy of Mr F. R. Barker, built by Green Marine / Souters Marine, costing £1,400,000.126614-35John Neville Taylor2002 2002–2008 Relief fleet235005114Legacy of Mr J. N. Taylor, built by Green Marine / Souters Marine, costing £1,400,000. 2008–

RNLI relief fleet ON Op. No. Name Built Station MMSI Comments120414-06Windsor Runner(Civil Service No.42)1995 1995–2004 232001950Gift of CISPOTEL LB fund, built by Green Marine / Halmatic, costing £1,025,000. 2004–2008 Relief fleet 2008 2008– Relief fleet120514-07Frederick Storey Cockburn1995 1995–2023 232001960Legacy of Mr S. F. Cockburn, built by Green Marine / William Osborne, costing £1,025,000. 2023–2024 Relief fleet 2024–2026 2026– Relief fleet120614-08Douglas Aikman Smith1995 1996–2021 232001970Legacy of Mr D. Aikman-Smith, built by Green Marine / Souters Marine, costing £1,025,000. 2021– Relief fleet120814-10Samarbeta1995 1996– 232002340Gift of Volvo Cars UK Ltd, plus other gifts and legacies, built by Green Marine / Souters Marine, costing £1,025,000.Withdrawn from Gt Yarmouth and Gorleston, 13 June 2026. 2026 Relief fleet121214-141995 1996–2023 232002370Funded by the 'Mary Webb Trust', built by Green Marine / Souters Marine, costing £1,200,000. 2023– Relief/Training fleet121414-16Stanley Watson Barker1996 1996–2026 232002390Legacy of Mr S. W. Barker, plus legacies from Mrs E. Arabian and Mr J. R. Blaxland, built by Green Marine / Souters Marine, costing £1,175,000.Withdrawn from Portree on 1 June 2026 2026– Relief fleet121514-17Elizabeth and Ronald1996 1996–2021 232002410Legacy of Mrs E. M. Manners-Clark, built by Green Marine / William Osborne, costing £1,200,000. 2021– Relief fleet122214-18Maurice and Joyce Hardy1996 1996–2025 232002181Gift and bequest of Mr M. G. Hardy, CBE, C.Eng, built by Green Marine / Souters Marine, costing £1,250,000.Withdrawn from Fowey, August 2025 2025– Relief fleet123914-27Robert Hywel Jones Williams1999 1999–2026 232003137Legacy of Mr R. H. Jones-Williams, built by Green Marine / William Osborne, costing £1,200,000.Withdrawn from Fenit, 15 September 2026. 2026– Relief fleet124614-30Dr John McSparran2000 2000–2026 232004397Legacies of Miss M. McSparran, Mrs A. F. M. Cripps, and Miss S. C. McCully, built by Green Marine / Souters Marine, costing £1,400,000.Withdrawn from Larne, 1 April 2026. 2026– Relief fleet125914-34Willie & May Gall2002 2002–2026 235005113Legacy of Mrs M. C. Gall, built by Green Marine / Souters Marine, costing £1,400,000.Withdrawn from Fraserburgh, 30 May 2026. 2026– Relief fleet127414-37Betty Huntbatch2003 2003–2004 Relief fleet235010879Legacy of Mrs E. Huntbatch, built by Green Marine / Souters Marine, costing £1,400,000. 2004–2025 2025– Relief fleet

RNLI retired fleet