Sponsors
National Historic Ships UK acknowledges the financial support of its sponsors
Previous names
- 1956 B.A.S.P.
- 1955 - 1996 VALENCIA
Certificate no
1687
Status
National Historic Fleet
a12admin
Details
Function
Service Vessel
Subfunction
Lifeboat
Location
Chatham Historic Dockyard
Vessel type
Watson Class Lifeboat
Current use
Museum based
Available to hire
No
Available for excursions
No
Info required
No
Web address
http://www.rnli.org.uk/heritage
Construction
Builder
White, J Samuel & Co Ltd, Cowes, Isle of Wight
Built in
1924
Hull material
Rig
None
Number of decks
1
Number of masts
Propulsion
Motor
Number of engines
1
Primary engine type
Unknown
Boiler type
None
Boilermaker
None
Dimensions
Breadth: Beam
12.49
feet
(3.81
m)
Length: Overall
44.98
feet
(13.72
m)
Tonnage: Gross
0.00
Air Draft
To be confirmed
History
BASP is a Watson Class lifeboat built by J Samuel White in 1924. Although built as one of the first motor lifeboats she was also fitted with a mast and sails in case her single 80 hp engine failed. The vessel was the first lifeboat at the new Yarmouth IOW station in 1924. She later served at Falmouth, Cornwall and then for short periods at Rosslare, Ballycotton, Dunmore East and Dun Laoghaire.
During her 10 years at Yarmouth she was launched 42 times and saved 30 lives. She continued working in the Relief Fleet until 1954 when she was overhauled and finally sold out of service in1955. BASP now forms part of the Historic Lifeboat Collection at Chatham.
Key dates
- 1920 Built in Isle of Wight as a lifeboat
- 1955 Sold out of service, re-named VALENCIA and used as a pleasure craft
- 1996 On display at Chatham Historic Dockyard
Own this vessel?
If you are the owner of this vessel and would like to provide more details or updated information, please contact info@nationalhistoricships.org.uk
