RNLB Manchester Unity of Oddfellows (B-702)Sheringham Lifeboats: By Leach, Nicholas and Russell, Paul :Published by landmark Pub Ltd, 2009: was an lifeboat rigid-inflatable inshore lifeboat on station at the English coastal town of Sheringham in the county of Norfolk in the United Kingdom.OS Explorer Map 252 - Norfolk Coast East. . The boat was a permanent replacement for the lifeboat which served at Sheringham from 29 January 1994.
Funding and new equipment Manchester Unity of Oddfellows was the very first Atlantic 75-class of lifeboat to be placed on permanent service at an RNLI station in the United Kingdom, reinforcing the faith and investment in the continuing future of the Sheringham station. The new lifeboat was built at a cost of £61,000 and this was funded by the Independent Order of Oddfellows, Manchester Unity, who through this new boat maintained their strong link with the Sheringham branch of the RNLI. The organisation had, in the past, funded the long serving lifeboat . The Oddfellows also funded a new powerful tractor to launch the new lifeboat. The tractor, a Talus four wheel drive hydrostatic mode TW24H (registration No. K313 ENT) cost the sum of £147,000. To launch, the new tractor would propel the lifeboat on its carriage trailer, reversing down to the beach on the concrete slipway and pull it back up on retrieval.
Description The Atlantic 75-class superseded the Atlantic 21-class. The name Atlantic is derived from Atlantic College in Wales, where the rigid inflatable B-class was first developed. The designation 75 is derived from its length of nearly . A significant improvement to this class over the 21 is the addition of a ballast tank installed at the front of the lifeboat which enables the craft to launch into larger surf than the previous class. The ballast when full, either of sea water or water from a hose, weighs the same as three fully grown men. The lifeboat has a crew of three and has a top speed of and can operated in severe weather conditions up to winds of near gale force. The design incorporates twin outboard engines which are completely waterproofed, even if totally immersed. The hull of the lifeboat is constructed from Glass Reinforced plastic with a hypalon coated polyester which is highly resistant attack by marine organisms, chemicals and temperature extremes. The lifeboat had a displacement of 1.6 tonnes. Her equipment included 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 was operated by a member of the crew activating a gas bottle.
Service Manchester Unity of Oddfellows first service took place on 1 April 1994 when she was launched to assist local fishing boats. In gusting winds of up to force nine, heavy rain and in poor visibility. The fishing boats had been caught out by the weather. Two of the boats had managed to make it back to shore. The third was called Alison Cathleen with one man aboard. The vessel had turned head to wind but her engine was working on a reduced power. The lifeboat took her into tow and beached her safely.
Relief Lifeboats During the period of Manchester Unity of Oddfellows service at Sheringham, she was relieved five times by reserve Atlantic 75-class lifeboats. Three of these periods the took up station as relief. The other two periods were stationed by and .
Rescue and service This record includes of the relief lifeboats during the period of service of Manchester Unity of Oddfellows (B-702) RNLB Susan Peacock (B-700) RNLB Vera Skilton (B-705) RNLB Eva Pank (B-756)
Manchester Unity of Oddfellows B-702DateCasualtyLives saved19941 AprilFishing boat Alison Cathleen, saved boat1Susan Peacock B-700 Relief lifeboat199420 MayFishing boat, escorted boat Manchester Unity of Oddfellows B-702199426 JulyTwo sailboards, gave help Vera Skilton B-705 Relief Lifeboat199427 NovemberBarge Polly, gave help Manchester Unity of Oddfellows B-702199523 MarchFishing vessel Verity Ellen, boat and one person brought in12 AprilFishing vessel Carrie Anne, boat and two people brought in21 April Fishing vessel Samara, boat and one person brought in25 AprilMotor fishing vessels Blue Boy, Scout and My Girl II, escorted boats26 July Motor fishing vessels Blue Boy and My Girl II, escorted boats199628 MayFishing vessel Laura Jane, boat and three people brought in4 July Fishing vessel Blue Boy, boat and one person brought in Vera Skilton B-705 Relief Lifeboat199611 SeptemberFishing vessel Blue Boy, boat and one person brought in19979 JulyThree Divers3 Manchester Unity of Oddfellows B-702199713 SeptemberMotor fishing vessels Mizpah and Valerie Theresa, escorted boats Vera Skilton B-705 Relief Lifeboat199825 FebruaryInjured man on board fishing vessel Katie Girl, Man brought in28 FebruarySailboard, gave help3 AprilMotor fishing vessels Anna Gail, Sarah Jayne, Verity Ellen and Sheila Joyce, escorted boatsMay 22Fishing vessel, stood byMay 29Fishing vessel, escorted craft Manchester Unity of Oddfellows B-702199824 AugustMotor cruiser Fairlie Knackered, escorted craft29 SeptemberYacht Sissi, Saved craft114 OctoberFishing vessel Johnathan James, boat and two people brought in19995 AprilYacht, boat and one person brought in.6 MayFishing vessel, escorted craft18 MayMotor boat, boat and two people brought in.10 JulyDive support craft Desert Moon Six divers, stood by craft6 Eva Pank B-756 Relief Lifeboat19992 AugustTwo divers2 Manchester Unity of Oddfellows B-70219996 SeptemberTwo people stranded2200014 MarchFishing vessel Tradewinds, boat brought in23 AprilFiashing vessel, craft brought in.24 AprilPowerboat, two people and craft brought in.27 May Fishing vessel Minuet, stood by.28 MayYacht Panter, escorted vessel.6 AugustSpeedboat Diminished Responsibility, Boat and three people brought in.27 AugustPowerboat Independence, Craft brought in712 SeptemberFishing vessel Lynn Anne, gave help13 September Fishing vessel Fin-Ar-Bed, assisted to save craft200123 MarchFishing vessel Tradewinds, craft brought in.4 AprilFishing vessel Providence II, craft brought in.7 AugustJet Ski, saved craft17 AugustCanoe, sved craft124 AugustPowerboat, boat and three people brought in26 AugustSick diver on diving boat Calypso, landed 2 people and craft brought in.112 SeptemberJet ski, gave help.20029 JanuaryFishing vessel Zuider Zee, stood by18 JuneMan over board from sailboard, saved board and landed one man13 AugustSkiff, three people and craft brought in24 OctoberYacht Quay Sweep, Saved craft424 NovemberSailboard, craft brought in.30 NovemberYacht Kumple, Boat and one person brought in20039 AprilTwo persons cut off by the tide at Stiffkey, stood by12 MayFishing vessel Laura Jane, stood by20 JuneCrab boat Lisa Diane, craft brought in.24 JuneFishing boat Alison Katherine, craft brought in.31 AugustCatamaran, stood by.1 SeptemberSailing dinghy, stood by20043 AprilFishing vessel, Boat and one person brought in18 April Fishing boat Alison Katherine, one person and craft brought in.200515 JuneSailing dinghy Warthog, craft brought in.18 JulyInflatable dinghy, stood by1 AugustFishing boat Blue Boy, One person and craft brought in.7 October Fishing boat Samara, One person and craft brought in.20 NovemberFishing boat Harriot Jane, two people and craft brought in.20063 JanuaryFishing boat Lisa Diane, two people and craft brought in.8 MayFishing boat Trade Winds, escorted vessel24 JuneTanks partially submerged in the sea, gave help6 JulyYacht Blue Celeste, gave help9 AugustYacht Gilly, one person and craft brought in.23 SeptemberPerson in the sea, gave help200717 FebruaryPerson in sea1
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