Severn Class Lifeboats

Developed in the early 1990s, the Severn class was introduced into the fleet in 1995 and is designed to lie afloat, either at deep-water moorings or at a berth. The severn class is currently the largest in the RNLI fleet.

The Severn has a sheerline that sweeps down for ease of survivor recovery. She is inherently self-righting and should it be knocked over in extreme weather, it will automatically right itself within a few seconds.

Her propellers and rudders lie in partial tunnels set into the hull that, along with the two bilge keels, provide excellent protection from damage in shallow water.

In addition to her twin engines, the Severn is fitted with a hydraulic-powered bow thruster for improved manoeuvrability.

The Severn carries a small Y boat, which is an inflatable daughter boat complete with a 15hp outboard engine. This small craft can be launched with a crane and is used in moderate conditions to access areas where the lifeboat cannot reach.

Severn Class Facts

Introduced: 1995 (Last built 2004)

Length: 17.3m

Width: 5.9m

Load: 42 tonnes

Launch Type: Afloat

Fuel Capacity: 5,600 litres

Crew: 7

Range: 250 nautical miles

Max Speed: 25 Knots

Engines: 2 x Caterpillar 3412 TA marine diesel; 1,250hp each at 2,300hp or 2 x MTU M94 Diesel Engine 1,600hp each at 2450rpm

O.N.	Op. No.	Name	Year Built	Service History	Notes
1179	17-01	Maurice and Joyce Hardy (1992–1995) Peter and Marion Fulton (1998–2004)	1991	Trials 1991 to 1998 Training 1998 to 2004	(1)
1201	17-02	The Will	1995	Relief 1996 to 1997 Falmouth 1997 to 2001 Relief 2001 to date	(2)
1202	17-03	Albert Brown	1995	Harwich 1996 to date
1203	17-04	Spirit of Guernsey	1996	St Peter Port 1997 to date
1216	17-05	Pride of Humber	1996	Humber 1997 to date
1217	17-06	David Kirkaldy	1996	Aran Islands 06/06/97 to date
1218	17-07	John and Margaret Doig	1996	Valentia 29/11/96 to date
1219	17-08	Helmut Schroeder of Dunlossit II	1996	Islay 1997 to date
1220	17-09	City of London II	1996	Dover 1997 to date
1221	17-10	Michael and Jane Vernon	1997	Lerwick 1997 to date
1229	17-11	The Whiteheads	1997	St Marys 1997 to date
1230	17-12	Edna Windsor	1998	Barra Island 1998 to date
1231	17-13	Margaret Forster	1998	Kirkwall 1998 to date
1232	17-14	Charles Lidbury	1998	Aith 1998 to date
1235	17-15	Bryan and Gordon	1998	Ballyglass 14/08/98 to date
1236	17-16	Spirit of Derbyshire	1998	Stormness 1998 to date
1237	17-17	Fraser Flyer (Civil Service No. 43)	1999	Relief 1999 to date
1238	17-18	Tom Sanderson	1999	Stornoway 1999 to date
1241	17-19	Ernest and Mary Shaw	1999	Campbeltown 1999 to date
1242	17-20	Spirit of Northumberland	1999	Tynemouth 1999 to 2021	(4)
1243	17-21	David and Elizabeth Acland	1999	Newhaven 1999 to date
1244	17-22	Myrte Maud	1999	Arranmore 22/01/00 to date
1247	17-23	Katie Hannon	2000	Portrush 15/06/00 to ??/01/08	(3)
1248	17-24	Bon Accord	2000	Aberdeen 2000 to date
1249	17-25	Eric and Susan Hiscock (Wanderer)	2000	Yarmouth 2001 to date
1250	17-26	Henry Alston Hewat	2000	Mallaig 2001 to date
1254	17-27	Volunteer Spirit	2001	Relief 2001 to date
1255	17-28	Alec and Christina Dykes	2001	Torbay 2001 to date
1256	17-29	Richard Cox Scott	2001	Falmouth 2001 to date
1257	17-30	William Gordon Burr	2001	Relief 2002 to 2008 Portrush 04/04/08 to date
1260	17-31	Roger and Joy Freeman	2002	Relief 2002 to date
1261	17-32	Ernest and Mable	2002	Weymouth 2002 to date
1262	17-33	Beth Sell	2002	Relief 2002 to date
1263	17-34	Osier	2002	Relief 2002 to 2021 Tynemouth 2021 to date
1264	17-35	Sybil Mullen Glover	2003	Plymouth 2003 to date
1265	17-36	Ivan Ellen	2003	Penlee 2003 to date
1268	17-37	William Blannin	2003	Buckie 2003 to date
1269	17-38	Daniel L Gibson	2003	Relief 2003 to date
1270	17-39	Elizabeth Fairlie Ramsay	2003	Tobermory 2003 to date
1271	17-40	Julian and Margaret Leonard	2003	Lochinver 2003 to date
1272	17-41	Christopher Pearce	2003	Holyhead 2003 to date
1273	17-42	The Taylors	2004	Thurso 2004 to date
1276	17-43	Donald & Barbara Broadhead	2004	Rosslare Harbour 09/07/04 to date
1277	17-44	Annette Hutton	2004	Castletownbere 12/08/04 to date
1278	17-45	The Duke of Kent	2005	Relief 2005 to date
1279	17-46	Margaret, Joan and Fred Nye	2004	Relief 2004 to date

Lifeboats highlighted in GREEN were based at Irish Lifeboat stations.

Notes

(1) Prototype Severn class. Sold for use as a work boat in 2005

(2) First Severn class to receive mid-life upgrade work (July 2019)

(3) Damaged beyond economic repair after grounding on Ratlin Island

(4) Withdrawn from service. To be refurbished as part of the Severn Life Extension Programme (SLEP)

O.N. is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat

Op.No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull

Last Updated 14/07/21

Severn Life Extension Programme (SLEP)

The largest and most powerful class of lifeboat, the Severn entered service back in 1996 and there are currently 44 of these 42 tonne lifesaving vessels in the charity’s fleet. With an operational lifespan of 25 years, these amazing lifeboats are now approaching retirement age and are due to come off service soon.

However, the charity’s expert in-house engineering team has worked in partnership with academic and industry experts, establishing that the lifeboats’ hulls can continue operational service for another 25 years. Through a life extension upgrade, the Severn’s wheelhouse will be completely redesigned and a wide range of upgrades will be made, ensuring the vessels can operate safely and effectively for another 25 years.

As well as fitting the lifeboats out with more modern and sophisticated technology and systems, the upgraded Severns will have significant safety enhancements to ensure the RNLI’s volunteer crews are as safe as possible while out saving lives at sea in all weathers.

Nick Fenwick is Project Manager for the RNLI’s Severn life extension programme. He said: ‘From shock-mitigating seats for the crew, to new survivor space seating for casualties and a new daughter craft that can be launched quickly for rescuing casualties in shallow waters or close to rocks, the life extension upgrades will ensure our Severn class lifeboats are ready to save lives at sea for another 25 years.

‘The upgrades will bring the technology and systems onboard the Severn class lifeboats right up to date. A key upgrade will be the installation of the Systems and Information Management System, also known as SIMS.

‘Similar to the SIMS systems in our Tamar and Shannon class lifeboats, it is an electronic integrated bridge system that allows the crew to monitor, operate and control many of the lifeboat’s functions directly from their seats. These functions include the navigation and the mechanics of the lifeboat, such as the engines, bilge and electrics. This greatly increases our crews’ safety, reducing the need for them to walk around the lifeboat in the rough and challenging sea conditions they so often face.’

An allocation of six Severn class lifeboats will be upgraded initially, with the upgrades taking place at the RNLI’s All-weather Lifeboat Centre in Poole, Dorset. Work is already underway on the first vessel to receive its life extension upgrade, with a relief fleet Severn being worked on now with the aim of undertaking sea trials at the end of the year.

The first five lifeboat stations due to receive a life extended Severn are Aberdeen, Kirkwall and Lerwick in Scotland, Tynemouth in the north east of England and Ballyglass in the Republic of Ireland. Aberdeen Lifeboat Station are due to receive the first upgraded Severn at the end of 2021.

The average anticipated cost of each life extension upgrade is £1.25M. This is significantly less than the cost of designing and building a brand-new class of lifeboat to replace the Severn. For context, a Shannon, which is significantly smaller and not as powerful as the Severn, costs £2.2M to build.

Since entering service back in 1996, Severn class lifeboats have launched over 16,500 times, going to the aid of over 22,500 people and saving over 900 lives.

Angus Watson, Engineering and Supply Director, said: ‘I am so excited to announce our plans to extend the operational life of our Severn class lifeboats.

‘Our Severns are often located in the more remote locations across the UK and Ireland, where the crews are often required to sail out longer distances in the most challenging sea conditions. Being the largest class of lifeboat, it is well-suited for locations where mass casualty rescues are more likely, and its highly elevated upper steering position and greater length are ideal when negotiating large waves in the roughest seas.

‘While the systems and technology on board the Severn class need upgrading, the lifeboat’s hull and structure is still ideally suited to the challenging conditions these lifeboats face today. So rather than spending significantly more money to roll out a brand new class of all-weather lifeboat, supplying stations with upgraded Severn class lifeboats that we know can meet the demands of these challenging stretches of coastline is a much more efficient use of charitable funds, while still ensuring that our volunteer crews have lifeboats absolutely fit for purpose for the next 25 years.’