This boat was built in 1833 by John Oliver & Sons of South Shields and is nearly a direct copy of the first Lifeboat called the "Original" built 1789. It was presented to the Port by Thomas Forrest , a South Shields shipowner . The builders yard was on the Lawe , on land that was used by Readhead & Softley for their first shipyard . It was last used to enact a rescue in 1882 . On Dec 5th 1882 , the Norwegian brig "Olaf Kyrre" grounded on Herd Sands . The "Tyne" took the men off her . A few days later she went to the help of the schooner "Flidat" , which has also grounded on Herd Sands and rescued 2 crew .
It is the 2nd oldest preserved lifeboat in the world . It was retired in 1894 and in its 60 year life it saved 1028 lives. It was very badly damaged by a bomb in 1941 as seen below. The oldest lifeboat is the "Zetland" , also built in South Shields but now at Redcar . Her build date is listed as 1800 , but most sources place her construction as having been 1802 .
