Shannon-class lifeboat

Scarborough's Shannon-class 13-15 RNLB Frederic William Plaxton
Class overview
Builders:
  • Inhouse at the ALC RNLI HQ Poole[1]
  • Fit out:-Inhouse at the ALC RNLI HQ Poole
Operators: Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Preceded by: Mersey class lifeboat
Cost: £1.5m
Built: 2012–
In service: Spring 2013
Planned: ~50
Active: 26
General characteristics (1st Experimental boat, Camarc hull)
Displacement: 14.6 long tons (15 t)
Length: 13.6 m (44 ft 7 in)
Beam: 4.54 m (14 ft 11 in)
Draught: 0.75 m (2 ft 6 in)
Propulsion:
  • 2 × Caterpillar C9 engines, 510 hp (380 kW)
  • 2 × Hamilton HJ 362 Waterjets
Speed: 27 knots (31 mph; 50 km/h)
Range: 250 nmi (460 km)
Complement: 5
General characteristics (Prototype, RNLI hull)
Displacement: 17 long tons (17 t)
Length: 13.6 m (44 ft 7 in)
Beam: 4.54 m (14 ft 11 in)
Draught: 0.75 m (2 ft 6 in)
Propulsion:
  • 2 × Scania DI13M, 650 hp (485 kW)
  • 2 × Hamilton HJ 364 Waterjets
Speed: 25 knots (29 mph; 46 km/h)
Range: 250 nmi (460 km)
Complement: 6

The Shannon-class lifeboat[2] (previously FCB2 – Fast Carriage Boat 2) is the latest class of lifeboat currently being deployed to the RNLI fleet to serve the shores of the British Isles. The Shannon class replaced the Mersey class carriage-launched lifeboat and, with the completion of the Tamar build programme, the remaining Tyne-class lifeboats.

History

FCB2, the prototype boat

The experimental boat, named Effseabee Too underwent sea trials during 2005–2008. It is based on a Camarc Pilot vessel design, with a fibre-reinforced composite hull, powered by twin water jets. It had a top speed of approximately 30 knots (56 km/h), but was planned to be rated down to 25–27 knots when the final design was put into production. In 2008, FCB2 development was delayed due to hull shape issues, as trials showed crews would be subjected to unacceptable shocks and excessive horizontal shaking in high seas. The RNLI indicated that the project would be extended by at least three more years to research a new hull shape.

The Shannon class uses similar Systems and Information Management System (SIMS)[3] technology to that of the Tamar class lifeboat so that crew members can operate all of the boat's systems collaboratively without leaving their seats. Crew seats are also similar to the Tamar, sprung to reduce the shocks in heavy seas. [4] In April 2009 it was announced a new hull had been chosen. The Shannon class prototype boat was completed late 2011 when active service was expected to start in mid-2013.[5]

In April 2011 it was announced the class would be named after the River Shannon, the longest river in Ireland. This is the first time that the name of an Irish river has been used for a class of RNLI lifeboat.[2]

After boatyard acceptance in March 2012 the first of the fleet went through sea acceptance trials in 2012. All hulls are moulded by SAR Composites and up to ON1318 were fitted out by Berthon Boat Co. of Lymington.[6]

From ON1319 fitting-out will be progressively switched to the RNLI All-Weather Lifeboat Centre at Poole, to which hull moulding will also eventually be transferred.

Service

The first Shannon-class to be delivered for service was demonstrated at Dungeness, Kent on 21 February 2014.[7] The boat, to begin active service the following month, has been named The Morrell in honour of Barbara Morrell, a keen fundraiser for the RNLI who bequeathed the service £6m which she asked to be used for a lifeboat for Kent.[7]

Further Shannons went on station at Anstruther, Douglas Isle of Man, Hoylake, Ilfracombe, Llandudno, Lowestoft, Montrose, Rhyl,[8] Scarborough, Skegness, Selsey, St Ives and Swanage. Some stations are yet to be confirmed.[9][10][11]

Most Shannons are launched by a newly-designed launch and recovery system by which a tractor propels the lifeboat on its cradle into the water. The cradle is then tilted and acts as a mobile slipway as the boat is launched by release of a single chain from the wheelhouse, rather than the old carriage launched method of four chains being released by crew members on deck. Recovery is bow first onto the cradle, which then rotates through 180 degrees, enabling the boat to be launched again within ten minutes. Some Shannons will be kept afloat at moorings or a pontoon berth and the boats are also capable of being slipway launched, although only Swanage currently has a slipway launched Shannon. The boat at Workington uses the same unique davit crane system as the previous Tyne class boat.

Fleet

ON[lower-alpha 1] Op. No.[lower-alpha 2] Name[12][13] Builder In service Principal Station Launch method MMSI[14]
1285 --- Effseabee Two SAR[lower-roman 1]/BBC[lower-roman 2] 2005–2008 Experimental boat
1308 13-01 Jock and Annie Slater SAR/BBC 2012– Relief fleet 235091414
1309 13-02 The Morrell SAR/BBC 2014– Dungeness [15] Carriage 235101095
1310 13-03 R and J Welburn SAR/BBC 2014– Exmouth [16] Carriage 235101096
1311 13-04 Storm Rider SAR/BBC 2014– Relief fleet 235101097
1312 13-05 Patsy Knight SAR/BBC 2014– Lowestoft [17] Afloat 235101098
1313 13-06 Edmund Hawthorn Micklewood SAR/BBC 2014– Hoylake[18] Carriage 235106573
1314 13-07 Reg SAR/BBC 2015– Relief fleet 235106574
1315 13-08 Derek Bullivant SAR/BBC 2015– Lough Swilly Afloat 235106575
1316 13-09 The Barry and Peggy High Foundation SAR/BBC 2015– Ilfracombe [19] Carriage 235106576
1317 13-10 Ian Grant Smith SAR/BBC 2015– Montrose[20] Afloat 235106578
1318 13-11 Nora Stachura SAR/BBC 2015– St Ives Carriage 235106579
1319 13-12 Cosandra SAR/BBC/ALC[lower-roman 3] 2016– Relief fleet 235106581
1320 13-13 George Thomas Lacy SAR/BBC 2016– Swanage Slipway 235106583
1321 13-14 Kenneth James Pierpoint SAR/ALC 2016– Fleetwood Afloat 235109051
1322 13-15 Frederick William Plaxton SAR/ALC 2016– Scarborough Carriage 235109052
1323 13-16 Elizabeth and Leonard SAR/ALC 2016– Amble Afloat 235109054
1324 13-17 Joel and April Grunnill SAR/ALC 2017– Skegness Carriage 235109055
1325 13-18 William F. Yates SAR/ALC 2017– Llandudno Carriage 235109056
1326 13-19 Dorothy May White SAR/ALC 2017– Workington Davit 235109062
1327 13-20 Denise and Eric SAR/ALC 2017– Selsey Carriage 235109063
1328 13-21 Brianne Aldington SAR/ALC 2017– Relief fleet 235113727
1329 13-22 Antony Patrick Jones SAR/ALC 2017– Bridlington Carriage 235113728
1330 13-23 Elizabeth and Gertrude Allan ALC 2017– Girvan Afloat 235113731
1331 13-24 Barbara Ann ALC 2018– Lytham St. Annes Carriage 235113732
1332 13-25 Stella and Humphrey Berkley ALC 2018– Leverburgh Afloat 235113733
1333 13-26 John Metters ALC 2018– Relief fleet 235113734
1334 13-27 Joanna and Henry Williams ALC 2018- Relief fleet
1335 13-28 Richard and Caroline Colton ALC 2018- Hastings Carriage
1336 13-29 Helen Hastings ALC Due 2019 Eyemouth Afloat
1337 13-30 Ella Larsen ALC Due 2019 Barmouth
1338 13-31 ALC Due 2019 Clogher Head
1339 13-32 Ruth and David Harper ALC Due 2019 Relief fleet
1340 13-33 ALC Due 2019

References

  1. ↑ "RNLI Press Release 16/01/09". Rnli.org.uk. 2014-02-17. Retrieved 2014-02-21.
  2. 1 2 "Newest class of RNLI lifeboat to be named after River Shannon". Rnli.org.uk. 2011-04-11. Retrieved 2015-01-26.
  3. ↑ "SIMS: Technology that puts crew safety first | RNLI". RNLI Magazine. Retrieved 2017-03-30.
  4. ↑ RNLI FCB2 newsletter Archived 27 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine.
  5. ↑ "New hull design announced for latest class of RNLI lifeboat". Rnli.org.uk. 2011-04-11. Retrieved 2015-01-26.
  6. ↑ "Introducing the Shannon Class lifeboat". Chriswah. Retrieved 2014-02-21.
  7. 1 2 "Shannon superlifeboat arrives at Dungeness". bbc.co.uk. 2014-02-17. Retrieved 2014-02-21.
  8. ↑ http://rhyl-lifeboat.co.uk/rhyl-rnli-station-allocated-new-shannon-class-all-weather-lifeboat
  9. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 5 August 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2012.
  10. ↑ "Swanage RNLI Lifeboat Station". Blog.swanagelifeboat.org.uk. Retrieved 2014-02-21.
  11. ↑ "Newest lifeboat for new Montrose RNLI station". BBC News Online. BBC. 20 July 2013. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  12. ↑ "Donate toward our lifesaving future". RNLI. Retrieved 2014-02-21.
  13. ↑ "NavynutsRNLIShannonclass". Lifeboatsonline.com. 2012-01-26. Retrieved 2014-02-21.
  14. ↑ "Particulars of Ship stations". www.itu.int. Archived from the original on 2010-03-26. Retrieved 2017-03-30.
  15. ↑ http://lifeboats24-7.co.uk/forum/index.php?app=core&module=attach&section=attach&attach_id=11808
  16. ↑ "Building for a lifesaving future | Shannon trials updates | April 2013". RNLI. Retrieved 2014-02-21.
  17. ↑ "Lowestoft to receive new RNLI Shannon class lifeboat". Rnli.org. 2011-09-30. Retrieved 2014-02-21.
  18. ↑ "Generous legacy from former Wren to fund Hoylake's new RNLI lifeboat". Rnli.org. 2014-02-28. Retrieved 2014-02-28.
  19. ↑ "Berthon Welcomes Benefactor of New Ilfracombe Lifeboat". chriswah. 2015-04-29. Retrieved 2015-04-29.
  20. ↑ "New Shannon class water jet lifeboat arrives at RNLI Montrose station". BBC News. 21 August 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
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