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Shannon Class Lifeboats

Lough Swilly's Shannon Class lifeboat, O.N.1315, 13-08 Derek Bullivant was the first of it's class to be stationed in Ireland. Photo: RNLI

The Shannon class lifeboat – its previous designation was the Fast Carriage Boat 2 or FCB2 reflecting that it will be predominantly launched over beaches, – harnesses cutting-edge technology to ensure that it will meet the demands of a 21st century rescue service and allow the charity’s volunteer crew to do their lifesaving work as safely as possible in all weather conditions.


Using twin waterjets instead of conventional propellers, the Shannon class will be able to operate in shallow waters and be highly manoeuvrable. The waterjets also reduce the risk of damage to the lifeboat during launch and recovery, or when intentionally beached.


It can be launched, bow first, from a tractor and carriage and will have a top speed of 25 knots. Like the Tamar class lifeboat, the Shannon also has specially designed seats that protect the volunteer crew and SIMS (System and Information Management System), which allows the crew to monitor the boat from the safety of their seats.


Like all RNLI all-weather lifeboats, the Shannon is self-righting and will return to an upright position in the event of capsize.

Lough Swilly was the first Irish station to receive a Shannon Class in April 2015.

Shannon Class Overview

  • Cost: £1.5 million
  • In Service: From 2013
  • Length: 13.6m
  • Width: 4.54m
  • Load: 14.6 tonnes
  • Crew: 5
  • Range: 250 nautical miles
  • Max Speed: 25-27 Knots
  • Engines: 2 x Catterpiller C9 engines, 510hp, 2 x Hamilton HJ 362 Waterjets

Systems and Information Management System (SIMS)

The integrated electronic Systems and Information Management System (SIMS) allows crew to monitor, operate and control many of the lifeboat’s systems directly from the safety of their seats.


It means they spend less time standing up and moving around the lifeboat and so are less prone to injury in rough weather.


SIMS provides access to:

  • communications including VHF (very high frequency) radio, direction finder (DF) and intercom
  • navigation including radar, chart, differential global positioning system (DGPS), depth and speed
  • machinery monitoring including engines, transmission, fuel and bilge.

Manoeuvrability

The Shannon is the first modern all-weather lifeboat propelled by waterjets instead of propellers, making her the most agile and manoeuvrable all-weather lifeboat in the RNLI fleet.


Waterjets allow the Shannon to operate in shallow waters and be intentionally beached. And when precision really matters, such as operating alongside a stricken vessel or navigating around hazards, they come into their own.


At maximum power, the Shannon lifeboat pumps 1.5 tonnes of water each second from her waterjets.


Measuring just over 13m in length and weighing in at 18 tonnes, the Shannon is the smallest and lightest of the 25-knot lifeboats, meaning she can be launched straight off the beach via a new and improved launch and recovery system.

Shannon Launch and Recovery System (SLARS)

Hoylake’s Shannon class lifeboat, Edmund Hawthorn Micklewood 13-06, being recovered by her launch and recovery tractor, Roland Hough. Photo: Dave James

Designed in conjunction with Supacat Ltd, the new tractor-borne carriage allows a faster and safer launch and recovery time than the present Mersey system.


It operates as a mobile slipway, which solves the unique challenge of transporting, launching and recovering the Shannon lifeboat over some of the most demanding beaches.


After being recovered from the beach bow first, a turntable in the carriage rotates the Shannon 180º ready for her next launch. Meaning casualties can be reached sooner and our volunteer launching crews are better protected.

RNLI All-Weather Lifeboat Centre (ALC)

The RNLI All-weather Lifeboat Centre in Poole, Dorset. Photo:Nathan Williams

The All-weather Lifeboat Centre (ALC) is a production facility of approximately 5,000m2 with 7,000m2 of open areas, quay spaces and good land access for low loaders.


The new facility allows the manufacture of six Shannon-class composite all-weather lifeboats per year from hull construction to engine and system fit-out. A dedicated area of the facility will also deal with the re-fit of some 125 all-weather lifeboats per year. It includes some impressive features such as three spray booths used to apply primer, coats of paint and antifoul to the lifeboats, moveable platforms which will improve ergonomics and efficiency for accessing fit-out and refit.


The All-weather Lifeboat Centre (ALC) officially opened on 21 August 2015.


From ON1319 fitting-out progressively switched to the RNLI All-Weather Lifeboat Centre (ALC) at Poole, to which hull moulding also transferred from ON1330. 

O.N.

Op.No.

Name

Year Built

Service History

Notes

1285


Effseabee Two

2005

Prototype

Trails 2005 to 2012

(1)

1308

13-01

Jock and Annie Slater

2012

Relief 2012 to 2019

Wicklow 05/04/19 to 12/12/20

Relief 2021 to date

(2) 

(3)

1309

13-02

The Morrell

2013

Dungeness 2014 to date


1310

13-03

R and J Welburn

2014

Exmouth 2014 to date


1311

13-04

Storm Rider

2014

Relief 2014 to date


1312

13-05

Patsy Knight

2014

Lowestoft 2014 to date


1313

13-06

Edmund Hawthorn Micklewood

2014

Hoylake 2014 to date


1314

13-07

Reg

2014

Relief 2015 to date


1315

13-08

Derek Bullivant

2014

Lough Swilly 10/04/15 to date


1316

13-09

The Barry and Peggy High Foundation

2015

Ilfracombe 2015 to date


1317

13-10

Ian Grant Smith

2015

Montrose 2015 to date


1318

13-11

Nora Stachura

2015

St Ives 2015 to date


1319

13-12

Cosandra

2015

Relief 2016 to date

(4)

1320

13-13

George Thomas Lacy

2015

Swanage 2016 to date


1321

13-14

Kenneth James Pierpoint

2016

Fleetwood 2016 to date


1322

13-15

Frederick William Plaxton

2016

Scarborough 2016 to date


1323

13-16

Elizabeth and Leonard

2016

Amble 2016 to date


1324

13-17

Joel and April Grunhill

2016

Skegness 2017 to date


1325

13-18

William F. Yates

2017

Llandudno 2017 to date


1326

13-19

Dorothy May White

2017

Workington 2017 to date


1327

13-20

Denise and Eric

2017

Selsey 2017 to date


1328

13-21

Brianne Aldington

2017

Relief 2017 to 2019

Clifden ??/09/19 to ??/04/21

Relief 2021 to date

(5)

(3)

1329

13-22

Antony Patrick Jones

2017

Bridlington 2017 to date


1330

13-23

Elizabeth and Gertrude Allan

2017

Girvan 2017 to date

(6)

1331

13-24

Barbara Ann

2017

Lytham St. Annes 2018 to date


1332

13-25

Stella and Humfrey Berkeley

2018

Leverburgh 2018 to 2021

Relief 2021 to date


1333

13-26

John Metters

2018

Relief 2018 to date


1334

13-27

Joanna and Henry Williams

2018

Relief 2018 to 2020

Wicklow 12/12/20 to date


(3)

1335

13-28

Richard and Caroline Colton

2018

Hastings 2018 to date


1336

13-29

Helen Hastings

2018

Eyemouth 2018 to date


1337

13-30

Ella Larsen

2018

Barmouth 2019 to date


1338

13-31

Michael O'Brien

2019

Clogherhead 08/07/19 to date


1339

13-32

Ruth and David Harper

2019

Relief 2019 to 2021

Clifden ??/04/21 to 18/05/22

Relief 2022 to date


(5)

1340

13-33

Bridie O' Shea

2019

Relief 2019 to date


1341

13-34

Anthony Kenneth Heard

2019

Rhyl 2019 to date


1342

13-35

Frank and Brenda Winter

2019

Peel 20/10/21 to date


1343

13-36

John and Elizabeth Allen

2019

Seahouses 2020 to date


1344

13-37

Agnes A. P. Barr

2020

Invergordon 2021 to date


1345

13-38

Judith Copping Joyce

2020

Sheerness 2021 to date


1346

13-39

Smith Brothers

2020

Pwllheli 2021 to date


1347

13-40

Eric's Legend

2020

Relief 2021 to date


1348

13-41

William and Agnes Wray

2021

Dunmore East 06/11/21 to date 


1349

13-42

Anne and James Ritchie

2021

Ramsay 2022 to date 


1350

13-43

St Christopher

2021

Clifden 18/05/22 to date


1351

13-44

George and Frances Phelon

2021

Great Yarmouth and Gorleston

Stored Poole

1352

13-45

Val Adnams

2022

Courtmacsherry Harbour

Arrived Courtmacsherry 22/01/23 

1353

13-46

Duke of Edinburgh

2022

Wells 2023 to date


1354

13-47

Robert and Catherine Steen

2022

Anstruther


1355

13-48

Roy Barker V

2022

New Quay

Launch at Poole 10/01/23

1356

13-49



Whitby


Lifeboats in Bold lettering are currently based at Irish stations. 

Lifeboats in Italic lettering are not yet in service or under construction. Allocations & names may be subject to change.


Notes

(1) Prototype Shannon class lifeboat. Trials from 2005 until withdrawn from use in May 2012. Sold in 2013 to Dutch owners.

(2) Not officially named until 11/07/13.

(3) Temporarily on station until arrival of the new permanent Shannon class lifeboat.

(4) First Shannon class to be fitted out at ALC.

(5) Temporarily on station.

(6) First all ALC built lifeboat.


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