HV52 VPC This blue RNLI Iveco flat-bed truck is being used to deliver the Molly Rayner hovercraft to the beach. It is fitted with blue flashing lights, which the law allows for lifeboat launching vehicles.
This is Humber Rescue’s rescue boat, Olive Hunt. It looks similar to an RNLI vessel, but this is a separate small organisation, based directly beneath the Humber Bridge in Kingston upon Hull
A look inside, showing the seating and marine communication and navigation systems.
The rescue boat is fitted with two Honda motors, as well as a blue flashing beacon.
To get the rescue boat the very short journey from the station to the river, a yellow Ford tractor is used. It is fitted with a yellow flashing light bar.
This photo shows a Relief Arun Class lifeboat on duty at Dover. It is seen exercising with an RAF Helicopter, Callsign RESCUE 125, from RAF Wattisham, Suffolk. The Arun Class lifeboat has a crew of 5 or 6 and can take a doctor out to an incident if the need arises. The top speed of the lifeboat is 18 knots and is 52 ft in length. If it is capsized it can right itself within 5 seconds. This is an All Weather Lifeboat or ALB.
This photo shows a lifeboat, from Bembridge, Isle of Wight. The boat has has a crew of 2 or 3 and the crew are on their knees all the time they are on the boat, hence the retirement age of 45. The “D-Class” has a top speed of 20 knots and is 16ft in length. The “D-Class” is the most numerous class of lifeboat in the RNLI fleet. These type of lifeboat are sometimes used during floods.
Two pictures of a unit used at New Brighton to launch a Rigid Inflatable Boat onto the River Mersey. The unit is fully submersible. It’s all wheel drive. The tyres are filled with water and the cabin floods to a certain height to maintain balast and traction when in deep water.
You can see water trails on the slip. These are from the twin out-boards on the RIB. The engines are fed from a tank on the trailer with cooling water so that they can be started on the way to the slip so when they hit the water they can go at full throttle as soon as possible.
The Lifeboat and Coastguard services of the UK are often forgotten when thinking of emergency service vehicles. Above is the off-shore lifeboat based at Amble marina, Northumberland. Note the blue light near the top of the mast.It is 44-005 Margaret Graham, a Waveney class lifeboats which was introduced in 1964. This boat was the last Waveney class lifeboat in service with the RNLI. This type was withdrawn in 1999, and replaced by Severn and Trent class lifeboats but in Ambles case they received a Mersey class lifeboat.
Here is an strange tractor unit spotted at Seahouses. Fitted with blue lights, it is used to launch and recover the carriage launched 12m Mersey class lifeboat that is operated at 24 stations nationwide. These tractors are specifically designed for the task of launching and recovering lifeboats. They weight over 19 tons and can pull over 16 tons but in reality it could pull a lot more than this. They are powered by a Caterpillar diesel engine at over 200hp but only have a top speed of about 10mph!
Next, a picture of a 17m Severn class all weather lifeboat, number 17-20 which is stationed at Tynemouth lifeboat station. This type came into service in 1996 and this particular boat went on station at Tynemouth in October 1999.
Here is a lifeboat called Bon Accord, also known as “Aberdeen Lifeboat”.
Here are two pictures of a Sea King helicopter with a RNLI offshore and an inshore lifeboat on exercise.
R803 NCU This Ford Transit is a IRC rescue vehicle. It is fitted with amber flashing lights and a simple livery. It is parked up next to a IRC pop-up tent.
SN05 AHK This IRC rescue ambulance is based at Grangemouth, Scotland. It is an Iveco Daily with red and blue checker markings. It can accommodate up to eight people and carries medical equipment.
The rear view. Notice the blue light repeaters at the tops of the doors as the main light bar is at the front of the roof. As a sideline, this vehicle provides medical cover at Land Rover’s test course at Perth.
This is an example of a 2007 Mitsubishi Shogun decked out in HATO colours.
WU53 JCJ is a Mitsibushi Shogun HATO patrol car. It carries the usual black and yellow battenburg markings and amber flashing lights all-round, plus red to the rear only. Shown next to the car is the type of equipment carried to divert traffic. You can also see the HATO’s high-visibility jacket which is yellow on the lower half, orange on the upper half with blue epaulettes.
Another shot of the same car with out the signage around it.
EU04 BYA This is an example of the Range Rovers used by the Highways Agency.
BU05 FMF is a Toyota Land Cruiser used by the traffic officers of the Highways Agency. The vehicle has a striking luminous yellow and black battenburg scheme on top of silver paint work. It carries a slim-line clear light bar on the roof, making it appear very much like a police vehicle from the front.
The rear windows of the vehicle carry the wording ‘TRAFFIC OFFICER’ to alert other motorists to its use.
In the rear of the 4×4, we can see some of the equipment it carries. This includes: cones, tape, fire blankets, emergency signage and water amongst other items.
With the rear door shut, we can see the dot matrix display in the rear window to give messages to other motorists. However, the spare wheel has had to be removed in order for it to be read clearly.
This Nissan Pathfinder is also used by the Highways Agency. Like the Toyota above, it carries reverse wording on its bonnet to denote its use.
This example does not carry the Traffic Officer wording in the rear side windows, but does have a drop-down dot matrix display (operated from the dashboard). It is equipped with the same light bar and additional rear bumper lights as well as a tow hook.
RF03 LFU This Honda ST1100 motorbike can be used by the HA for patrolling and escorting duties. It is in orange and white checker markings, and has amber flashing lights on the front and on a pole at the rear.
The rear and nearside view. Additional red flashing lights have been fitted, along with amber LED lights and a matrix sign. It has dual panniers and a top box to carry some equipment.
This HA Honda motorbike is one of a pair that are decked out with pink and blue squares. Notice that it has panniers and a top box for equipment, but the fire extinguisher is mounted in front of the box. Amber flashing lights are fitted to the front and on the top of the box. It has HA logos on all sides, and is operated on behalf of the HA by CF Motoring Services Ltd. to rescue stranded motorists and hence reduce congestion.
KR03 UXC This yellow Ford Transit is a Highways Agency ‘Incident Support Unit’. It is liveried with orange and yellow diagonal stripes down the sides and traditional chevrons on the rear. It also has two amber lighbars.
WP53 ZTL is a Mitsubishi Shogun operated by The Highways Agency. Although not an emergency vehicle, it is used to patrol major roads. The crew do not have the same rights as traffic police, but are able to direct traffic in the event of an incident.
From this view you can see how the livery differs from an emergency vehicle. We have yellow and black battenburg markings and orange and red flashing lights on the roof bar.
This vessel is Lambeth, a 13.5m catamaran that is used by the Port of London Authority. New in Summer 2009, it is the first of four new vessels for the authority, each of which is named after a London bridge.
This yellow and white jet ski has yellow and green checkers up the sides as well as a blue strobing beacon mounted on the front. It was spotted in Portsmouth harbour and is used by the Queen’s Harbour Master volunteer harbour patrol there.
This is a Harbour Master vessel called Westbourne. It is operated by the Port of London Authority on the River Thames. Notice the twin blue lights on the roof of the cabin.
Ravensbourne II is another Port of London Authority craft.
This is a Harbour Master survey vessel. It has striking yellow striping on the port and starboard bow and a blue flashing light at the top of the mast. It was spotted on the River Ouse in York.
This German registered Hagglunds BV206 has been modified by Hellgeth and is fitted with a Mercedes diesel engine. It is not known which emergency service this advanced all terrain vehicle is used by.
This French registered Fiat based demosntrator ambulance has been created by the European coachbuilder Gruau and wears the companies distinctive logo on its sides.