THE “E-CLASS” LIFEBOAT SERVES THE SHORES OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AS A PART OF THE ROYAL NATIONAL LIFEBOAT INSTITUTION (RNLI) INSHORE FLEET.

THE “TOWER LIFEBOAT STATION” IS A STATION ON THE RIVER THAMES IN LONDON, UK, OPERATED BY THE RNLI.

IT IS LOCATED AT VICTORIA EMBANKMENT ON THE NORTH BANK OF THE THAMES, NEXT TO WATERLOO BRIDGE. AND TAKES ITS NAME FROM THE ORIGINAL RNLI LIFEBOAT STATION WHICH OPENED IN 2002 FURTHER DOWNSTREAM AT TOWER PIER, NEXT TO THE TOWER OF LONDON.

IN 2006 THE LIFEBOAT STATION MOVED TO ITS PRESENT LOCATION, WATERLOO PIER, THE FORMER WATERLOO POLICE PIER.

THE RNLI PROVIDES A LIFEBOAT SERVICE TO BOATS ON THE RIVER THAMES, INCLUDING THE REGULAR COMMUTER AND LEISURE SERVICES MANAGED BY LONDON RIVER SERVICES, PART OF TRANSPORT FOR LONDON.

THE RNLI OPERATES THREE LIFEBOAT STATIONS IN LONDON, CALLED TOWER, CHISWICK AND TEDDINGTON. THIS IS TOWER STATION WITH TWO OF THE RESCUE BOATS THAT OPERATES IN THAMES RIVER.

THIS “E-CLASS Mark I” IS MADE OF ALUMINIUM ALLOY AND POWERED BY A JET DRIVE THAT GIVES EXTREME MANEUVERABILITY WHICH IS ESSENTIAL TO ENABLE CREWS TO REACH CASUALTIES IN A FAST FLOWING RIVER.

LOA: 9 m.; BEAM: 2.94 m,; PROPULSION: 2 × 240 hp (179 kW) STEYR DIESELS POWERING HAMILTON WATER JETS. SPEED: 40 knt, WITH A CREW OF 3