Boats - Sailing - Ships
Dec. 12, 1964 - 44 ft. Steel life-boat from U.S. on view at Westminster pier.: A new style 44 ft. steel life-boat obtained by the Royal National Life-Boat Institution from the United States Coast Guard for the purpose of extensive trials in order to decide whether to build life-boats of this type for service off the coasts of Britain and Ireland. The trials began off Littlehampton in May 1964 since when she has toured boat stations and covering 4, 500 miles. The craft has two diesel engines each producing 200 shaft h.p. remotely controlled from the steering station by single lever control for bot clutch and throttle. Photo shows view of the unusual steering station of the American Lifeboat with Coxswain Sidney Hills at the wheel off Westminster Pier where the craft is being shown to the public
