Mora Edith MacDonald
At Oban we currently operate a Trent Class All Weather Lifeboat called Mora Edith MacDonald.
Speed
The introduction of the Trent class all-weather lifeboat into the RNLI fleet in 1994 was a major milestone for our search and rescue service.
With a top speed of 25 knots, she was our fastest all-weather lifeboat of the time and the first to be able to cover 250 nautical miles.
Manoeuvrability
The Trent is fast and agile enough to respond quickly in all kinds of weather and sea conditions.
She is ideal for offshore searches and rescues and has the power to tow large boats to safety.
The Trent lifeboat’s propellers and rudders lie in partial tunnels set into the hull. The tunnels, along with the two bilge keels, provide excellent protection from damage in shallow water.
Safety
Our Trent class lifeboat features one of the first hard chine (angled) hull designs for the RNLI. And the low line of her hull makes recovering casualties much easier.
As with all of our all-weather lifeboats, the Trent class is inherently self-righting. Should she capsize in severe weather, she will automatically right herself within a few seconds.
She has comprehensive medical equipment onboard including oxygen and full resuscitation kit, Entonox for pain relief, large responder bag and three different stretchers.
Efficiency and effectiveness
The Trent’s engine room is aft (at the stern of the boat) and space limitations led to a novel engine layout.
One of the engines is turned around, driving the propeller in a conventional way, while the other works through a V drive.
The Trent lifeboat carries a small XP boat, which is an inflatable daughter boat with a 5hp outboard engine capable of 6 knots. This allows the crew to access areas the Trent cannot reach.
The Trent also carries a portable salvage pump in a watertight container which can be taken onboard boats taking on water to try and save them from sinking.