Shannon-class lifeboat

Class overview
Builders:	SAR Composites[1]
Operators:	Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Preceded by:	Mersey class lifeboat
Cost:	£1.5m
In service:	Spring 2013
Building:	2
Planned:	39
Completed:	2
Active:	1
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:	27 knots (31 mph; 50 km/h)
Range:	250 nmi (460 km)
Complement:	5

The Shannon Class Lifeboat^[2] (previously FCB2 – Fast Carriage Boat 2) will serve the shores of the British Isles as a part of the RNLI fleet. The Shannon class is intended to replace the Mersey class carriage-launched lifeboat and, with the completion of the Tamar build programme, the remaining Tyne class boats.

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 currently has a top speed of approximately 30 knots (56 km/h), but will be rated down to 25–27 knots when the final design is put into production. In 2008 the 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 at least three more years to research a new hull shape.

The Shannon class will use similar SIMS technology to that of the Tamar class lifeboat so that crew members can operate all the boats systems collaboratively without leaving their seats. Crew seats are also similar to the Tamar, sprung to reduce the shocks in heavy seas. ^[3] In April 2009 it was announced a new hull had been chosen. The Shannon class prototype boat completed late 2011 with sea trials currently taking place due for active service as of mid-2013.^[4]

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 is going through sea acceptance trials in 2012.

The first Shannons will go on station at Dungeness, Hoylake, Ilfracombe, Llandudno, Lowestoft, Montrose, Scarborough, Skegness, Selsey, St Ives and Swanage. All other stations are yet to be confirmed.^[5][6][7]

Fleet

^[11][12]

ON is the RNLI's official vessel number. Op. No is the identical number carried on the hull.

References

External links

• RNLI Fleet