Severn-class lifeboat

The Severn class is the largest lifeboat operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). The class, which is 17.3 metres (56 ft 9 in) long, was introduced in to service in 1996. It is named after the River Severn, the longest river in Great Britain. The lifeboats are stationed at 35 locations around the coasts of the United Kingdom and Ireland and can provide coverage up to 125 nmi (232 km) out to sea.

The Will (ON 1201)
Class overview
NameSevern class
BuildersBerthon Boat Co, Green Marine (Hull Moldings)
Operators Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Preceded byArun-class
Cost£2 million
Built1992–2005
In service1996–
Completed46
Active44
Retired2
General characteristics
Displacement40 t (39 long tons)
Length17.3m (56ft 9in)
Beam5.9m (19ft 4in)
Draught1.78m (5ft 10in)
Propulsion
  • 2 × Caterpillar 3412 TA diesel engines, 1,250 hp (932 kW) each or
  • 2 x MTU 10V2000 M94 engines; 1,600 hp (1,193 kW) (after re-engining)
  • UBW 195 V reverse-reduction gearbox 2.03:1 ratio
  • 5,500 litre (1,200 imperial gallons) fuel capacity
Speed25 knots (29 mph; 46 km/h)
Range250 nmi (460 km)
Capacity
  • Self-righting 47
  • Non-self-righting 185
Complement6
Severn-class lifeboat No. 17–31 at quay in Poole Harbour, Dorset, England, showing its foredeck

History

In the 1980s the RNLI's fast Arun and Waveney all-weather lifeboats provided coverage 30 miles (48 km) out to sea, operating at up to 18 knots (33 km/h; 21 mph) to cover the distance in two hours in good weather. However, the RNLI felt that they needed the capability to extend their coverage to 50 miles (80 km) radius, which would require lifeboats with a top speed of 25 knots (46 km/h; 29 mph). This resulted in the 17-metre (56 ft) Severn and 14-metre (46 ft) Trent lifeboats.[1]

The prototype Severn was launched in 1991 (ON1179) and was named Maurice and Joyce Hardy. Trials started the following year and lasted until 1998.[2] In 1995, the boat was de-named. Problems were encountered during the trials with the "skegs" that protected the propellers, but were designed to protect the hull by breaking off if the boat hit rocks, as the first ones were too easily broken. Crashing through heavy seas at full speed caused damage to the hull, too.[3] It was transferred to training work when it carried operational number TL-02 and was named Peter and Marion Fulton, but was withdrawn in 2004. It was sold in 2005; in 2008 it was in use as a dive boat at Buckie, carrying the name Gemini Storm.[2] Sold to Montrose Marine Services ltd in 2011 and renamed Eileen May. Sold 2019 into private ownership, based North Wales coast. The first production Severn was The Will. It had been built in 1995 by Berthon Boat Co (Builders of 21 of the 46 Severn-class lifeboats) for Stornoway but had to undergo several modifications before it was fit for service. It was eventually placed in the relief fleet in 1996 and shown to many lifeboat stations where the class was expected to be deployed. It so impressed the crew at Falmouth that they pressed the RNLI to station it there until their own boat was built, and so it was stationed there from January 1997 until December 2001 when it was replaced by Richard Scott Cox.[4] In the meantime, Tom Sanderson had been deployed at Stornoway in 1999. The Will returned to the relief fleet after its time at Falmouth and has continued in that role since. Construction of its sister boats continued until 2005.[2]

In 2015, the Canadian Coast Guard commissioned a version of the Severn class modified for extreme conditions found off the coast of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia.[5]

In 2020 the RNLI started to design a Severn Life Extension Programme (SLEP) with the intention of extending the fleet's lifespan by 25 years. It involves taking an existing boat and fully refitting it from the hull up. The addition of modern electronic systems and shock mitigating seats similar to those found on the Shannon class lifeboats, are among many upgrades. In July 2022 it was announced that the prototype was almost complete and would soon be ready for sea trials.[6]

Description

Severns are constructed of fibre reinforced composite material, and their hard chine semi-displacement hull is built so that it will stay afloat with two of its five compartments flooded. For added manoeuvrability, in addition to twin engines, the Severn also has a bow thruster fitted.[7] The propellers are enclosed so that the Severn can take ground without damaging them. A Y-class inflatable boat can be deployed by an on-board crane for use in shallow water or confined spaces.[8]

Severns have comprehensive electronics systems that include full MF and VHF DSC radio equipment, differential GPS navigator, an electronic chart system, VHF radio direction finder, radar and weather sensors. Provision for survivors includes comprehensive first aid equipment including stretchers, oxygen and Entonox. They carry a portable salvage pump in a water-tight container, and can also carry out pumping and fire-fighting tasks using the engine-driven general service pump.

  • Hull with bow thruster
    Hull with bow thruster
  • Inside helm and controls
    Inside helm and controls
  • Engine room with Caterpillar 3412 TA marine diesel engines
    Engine room with Caterpillar 3412 TA marine diesel engines
  • Launching inflatable boat with on-board crane
    Launching inflatable boat with on-board crane
  • Stern quarter showing crane and inflatable boat stowed
    Stern quarter showing crane and inflatable boat stowed

Fleet
ON[lower-alpha 1] Op. No.[lower-alpha 2] Name In service Principal station MMSI[9] Comments
1179 17-01 Maurice and Joyce Hardy (1992–1995)
Unnamed 1995–1998
Peter and Marion Fulton (1998–2004)		 1992–1998
1998–2004		 Trials
Training fleet (TL-02)		 Sold in 2005. Was named Gemini Storm but now known as Elieen May.[10]
1201 17-02 The Will 1996–1997
1997–2001
2001–		 Relief fleet
Falmouth
Relief fleet		 232001890
1202 17-03 Albert Brown 1996– Harwich 232001910
1203 17-04 Spirit of Guernsey 1997– St Peter Port 232001940
1216 17-05 Pride of the Humber 1997– Humber 232002440
1217 17-06 David Kirkaldy 1997– Aran Islands 232002450
1218 17-07 John and Margaret Doig 1996– Valentia 232002460
1219 17-08 Helmut Schroder of Dunlossit II 1997– Islay 232002470
1220 17-09 City of London II 1997– Dover 232002480
1221 17-10 Michael and Jane Vernon 1997– Lerwick 232002490
1229 17-11 The Whiteheads 1997– St Mary's 232003049
1230 17-12 Edna Windsor 1998– Barra Island 232003050
1231 17-13 Margaret Foster 1998– Kirkwall 232003051
1232 17-14 Charles Lidbury 1998– Aith 232003052
1235 17-15 Bryan and Gordon 1998– Ballyglass 232003133
1236 17-16 Violet Dorothy and Kathleen 1998– Stromness 232003134
1237 17-17 Fraser Flyer (Civil Service No. 43) 1999– Relief fleet 232003135
1238 17–18 Tom Sanderson 1999– Stornoway 232003136
1241 17–19 Ernest and Mary Shaw 1999– Campbeltown 232003139
1242 17–20 Spirit of Northumberland 1999–2021 2021- Tynemouth SLEP Refit 232003140
1243 17–21 David and Elizabeth Acland 1999– Newhaven 232003141
1244 17–22 Myrtle Maud 2000– Arranmore 232003142
1247 17–23 Katie Hannan 2000–2008 Portrush 232004398 Damaged beyond economic repair after grounding on Rathlin Island.[11]
1248 17–24 Bon Accord 2000– Aberdeen 232004399
1249 17–25 Eric and Susan Hiscock (Wanderer) 2001– Yarmouth 232004401
1250 17–26 Henry Alston Hewat 2001– Mallaig 232004402
1254 17–27 Volunteer Spirit 2001– Relief fleet 232004406
1255 17–28 Alec and Christina Dykes 2001– Torbay 232004407
1256 17–29 Richard Cox Scott 2001– Falmouth 232004408
1257 17–30 William Gordon Burr 2002–2008
2008–		 Relief fleet
Portrush		 232004409
1260 17–31 Roger and Joy Freeman 2002– Relief fleet 235005115
1261 17–32 Ernest and Mabel 2002– Weymouth 235005118
1262 17–33 Beth Sell 2002– Relief fleet 235005116
1263 17–34 Osier 2002–2022 2021- Relief fleet

Tynemouth

 235005119
1264 17–35 Sybil Mullen Glover 2003– Plymouth 235005121
1265 17–36 Ivan Ellen 2003– Penlee 235005122
1268 17–37 William Blannin 2003– Buckie 235007809
1269 17–38 Daniel L Gibson 2003– Relief fleet 235007799
1270 17–39 Elizabeth Fairlie Ramsey 2003– Tobermory 235007798
1271 17–40 Julian and Margaret Leonard 2003– Lochinver 235007797
1272 17–41 Christopher Pearce 2003– Holyhead 235007796
1273 17–42 The Taylors 2004– Thurso 235007795
1276 17–43 Donald and Barbara Broadhead 2004– Rosslare Harbour 235010875
1277 17–44 Annette Hutton 2004– Castletownbere 235010876
1278 17–45 The Duke of Kent 2005– Relief fleet 235013842
1279 17–46 Margaret Joan and Fred Nye 2004– Relief fleet 235010878
  1. ON is the RNLI's Official Number of the boat.
  2. Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the boat carried on the hull.

References
  1. Wake-Walker, Edward (2008). The Lifeboats Story. Stroud: Sutton Publishing. pp. 59–72. ISBN 978-0-7509-4858-6.
  2. Denton, Tony (2009). Handbook 2009. Shrewsbury: Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 32–35.
  3. Kipling, Ray; Kipling, Susannah (2006). Never Turn Back. Stroud: Sutton Publishing. pp. 92–93. ISBN 978-0-7524-9596-5.
  4. Morris, Jeff (2002). The History of the Falmouth Lifeboats (2nd ed.). Coventry: Lifeboat Enthusiast's Society. pp. 30–40.
  5. "New Robert Allan lifeboats". Maritime Journal. 15 July 2013. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  6. RNLI (July 2022). "Severn Life Extension Programme RNLI update". RNLI. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  7. "Severn Class Lifeboat Information". RNLI. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
  8. Wake-Walker, Edward (2008). The Lifeboats Story. Stroud: Sutton Publishing. pp. 110–111. ISBN 978-0-7509-4858-6.
  9. "Particulars of Ship stations". www.itu.int. Retrieved 30 March 2017.
  10. "Elieen May Facebook Page". Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  11. "Station history". RNLI Lifeboats. Royal National Lifeboat Institution. Year 2008. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
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