RNLB Manchester Unity of Oddfellows (B-702)

History
United Kingdom
Name:	Manchester Unity of Oddfellows
Namesake:	The Independent Order of Oddfellows, Manchester Unity,
Owner:	Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)
Builder:	Hull by Souter Shipyard, fitted out by RNLI inshore lifeboat centre, Cowes, Isle of Wight.
Official Number:	B-702
Donor:	A gift of The Independent Order of Oddfellows, Manchester Unity,
Stations	Sheringham
Cost:	£61,000
Laid down:	1993
In service:	29 February 1994 to 11 July 2007
General characteristics
Class & type:	Atlantic 75
Type:	Rigid inflatable
Tonnage:	3,200lbs
Length:	20 ft 3 in (6.17 m)
Beam:	8 ft 8 in (2.64 m)
Installed power:	2 x 70bhp Evinrude engines
Propulsion:	Two Outboard engines
Speed:	32 kn (59 km/h)
Range:	2.5 hours at max speed
Crew:	3

RNLB Manchester Unity of Oddfellows (B-702) was an Atlantic 75-class lifeboat rigid-inflatable inshore lifeboat on station at the English coastal town of Sheringham in the county of Norfolk in the United Kingdom. The boat was a permanent replacement for the Atlantic 21-class lifeboat RNLB B-536 which served at Sheringham from the 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 Oakley-class lifeboat RNLB The Manchester Unity of Oddfellows (ON 960). 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The Atlantic 75-class superseded the Atlantic 21-class.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 32 kn (59 km/h) 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 the 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 RNLB Vera Skilton (B-705) took up station as relief. The other two periods were stationed by RNLB Susan Peacock (B-701) and RNLB Eva Pank (B-756).

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-702
Date	Casualty	Lives saved
1994
April 1	Fishing boat Alison Cathleen, saved boat	1
Susan Peacock B-700 Relief lifeboat
1994
May 20	Fishing boat, escorted boat
Manchester Unity of Oddfellows B-702
1994
July 26	Two sailboards, gave help
Vera Skilton B-705 Relief Lifeboat
1994
November 27	Barge Polly, gave help
Manchester Unity of Oddfellows B-702
1995
March 23	Fishing vessel Verity Ellen,boat and one person brought in
April 12	Fishing vessel Carrie Anne,boat and two people brought in
April 21	Fishing vessel Samara,boat and one person brought in
April 25	Motor fishing vessels Blue Boy, Scout and My Girl II, escorted boats
July 26	Motor fishing vessels Blue Boy and My Girl II, escorted boats
1996
May 28	Fishing vessel Laura Jane, boat and three people brought in
July 4	Fishing vessel Blue Boy,boat and one person brought in
Vera Skilton B-705 Relief Lifeboat
1996
September 11	Fishing vessel Blue Boy,boat and one person brought in
1997
July 9	Three Divers	3
Manchester Unity of Oddfellows B-702
1997
September 13	Motor fishing vessels Mizpah and Valerie Theresa, escorted boats
Vera Skilton B-705 Relief Lifeboat
1998
February 25	Injured man on board fishing vessel Katie Girl, Man brought in
February 28	Sailboard, gave help
April 3	Motor fishing vessels Anna Gail, Sarah Jayne, Verity Ellen and Sheila Joyce, escorted boats
May 22	Fishing vessel, stood by
May 29	Fishing vessel, escorted craft
Manchester Unity of Oddfellows B-702
1998
August 24	Motor cruiser Fairlie Knackered, escorted craft
September 29	Yacht Sissi, Saved craft	1
October 14	Fishing vessel Johnathan James,boat and two people brought in
1999
April 5	Yacht, boat and one person brought in.
May 6	Fishing vessel, escorted craft
May 18	Motor boat, boat and two people brought in.
July 10	Dive support craft Desert Moon Six divers, stood by craft	6
Eva Pank B-756 Relief Lifeboat
1999
August 2	Two divers	2
Manchester Unity of Oddfellows B-702
1999
September 6	Two people stranded	2
2000
March 14	Fishing vessel Tradewinds, boat brought in
April 23	Fiashing vessel, craft brought in.
April 24	Powerboat, two people and craft brought in.
May 27	Fishing vessel Minuet, stood by.
May 28	Yacht Panter, escorted vessel.
August 6	Speedboat Diminished Responsibility, Boat and three people brought in.
August 27	Powerboat Independence, Craft brought in	7
September 12	Fishing vessel Lynn Anne, gave help
September 13	Fishing vessel Fin-Ar-Bed, assisted to save craft
2001
March 23	Fishing vessel Tradewinds, craft brought in.
April 4	Fishing vessel Providence II, craft brought in.
August 7	Jet Ski, saved craft	1
August 7	Canoe, sved craft	1
August 24	Powerboat, boat and three people brought in
August26	Sick diver on diving boat Calypso, landed 2 people and craft brought in.	1
September 12	Jet ski, gave help.
2002
January 9	Fishing vessel Zuider Zee, stood by
June 18	Man over board from sailboard, saved board and landed one man	1
August 3	Skiff, three people and craft brought in
October 24	Yacht Quay Sweep, Saved craft	4
November 24	Sailboard, craft brought in.
November 30	Yacht Kumple, Boat and one person brought in
2003
April 9	Two persons cut off by the tide at Stiffkey, stood by
May 12	Fishing vessel Laura Jane, stood by
June 20	Crab boat Lisa Diane, craft brought in.
June 24	Fishing boat Alison Katherine, craft brought in.
August 31	Catamaran, stood by.
September 1	Sailing dinghy, stood by
2004
April 3	Fishing vessel, Boat and one person brought in
April 18	Fishing boat Alison Katherine, one person and craft brought in.
2005
June 15	Sailing dinghy Warthog, craft brought in.
July 18	Inflatable dinghy, stood by
August 1	Fishing boat Blue Boy, One person and craft brought in.
October 7	Fishing boat Samara, One person and craft brought in.
November 20	Fishing boat Harriot Jane, two people and craft brought in.
2006
January 3	Fishing boat Lisa Diane, two people and craft brought in.
May 8	Fishing boat Trade Winds, escorted vessel
June 24	Tanks partially submerged in the sea, gave help
July 6	Yacht Blue Celeste, gave help
August 9	Yacht Gilly, one person and craft brought in.
September 23	Person in the sea, gave help
2007
February 17	Person in sea	1

Preceded by RNLB B-536

RNLB Manchester Unity of Oddfellows (B-702) 1994 to 2007

Succeeded by RNLB The Oddfellows (B-818)