D-class lifeboat (IB1)
D-859 The Rotarian of Filey | |
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | D-class (IB1) |
| Builders | Inshore Lifeboat Centre, Cowes |
| Operators | Royal National Lifeboat Institution Some Independent lifeboats |
| Preceded by | D-class (EA16) |
| Cost | £89,000 |
| Built | 2001– |
| In service | 2003– |
| General characteristics | |
| Class & type | Inshore Boat 1 |
| Displacement | 400 kg (880 lb) |
| Length | 5 m (16 ft) |
| Beam | 2 m (6.6 ft) |
| Draught | 1.4 m (4.6 ft) |
| Propulsion | 1 × 50 hp Mariner outboard engine |
| Speed | 25 knots (29 mph) |
| Endurance | 3 hours |
| Capacity | 8 |
| Complement | 3 or 4 |
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The D-class (IB1) lifeboats are inflatable boats serving in the RNLI inshore lifeboat (ILB) fleet as well as a number of Independent Lifeboats around the UK and Ireland. Although they are known as the "IB1" at times, they are the latest development of the D-class lifeboat and as such are mainly referred to as a "D-class".
This class of lifeboat is one of the smallest operated by the RNLI, and they are a common sight at lifeboat stations round the coast. Unlike other members of the ILB fleet, the D-class (IB1) does not have a rigid hull. All others with the exception of the Arancia, hovercraft and all-weather lifeboat tenders are rigid inflatable boats.
The IB1 normally has a crew of three or four and is primarily used for surfer/swimmer incidents as well as assisting in cliff incidents where the casualty is near the water. The very nature of its work requires a swift response, and the IB1 can normally be afloat very quickly.
As of February 2020 the minimum crew for an RNLI IB1 was raised from 2 to 3. Some Independent Lifeboats have different crewing levels to the RNLI.