RNLI Lifeboat Classes
The RNLI operates a diverse fleet of lifeboats designed to respond to emergencies in every type of coastal environment. From powerful all-weather lifeboats capable of tackling severe conditions far offshore to agile inshore lifeboats operating in shallow waters and challenging areas closer to the coast, each vessel plays a vital role in saving lives at sea. The capabilities, specifications, and stations of each lifeboat class are detailed below.

Explore two centuries of RNLI lifeboat history, heroic rescues, and the enduring tradition of saving lives at sea.
Shannon
Walter Baxter · CC BY-SA 2.0
Severn
DS Pugh · CC BY-SA 2.0
Trent
Ian S · CC BY-SA 2.0
Atlantic 85
West Mersea Lifeboat Station · CC BY-SA 2.0
Atlantic 75
Mike MCC · CC BY-SA 2.0
D Class
Tom Nolan · CC BY-SA 2.0
E Class
Stephen Noulton · CC BY-SA 2.0
Arancia Class
Kenneth Allen · CC BY-SA 2.0
Hovercraft
El Pollock · CC BY-SA 2.0