Severn-class lifeboat

The Will (ON 1201)
Class overview
Name	Severn class
Builders	Berthon Boat Co, Green Marine (Hull Moldings)
Operators	Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Preceded by	Arun-class
Cost	£2 million
Built	1992–2005
In service	1996–
Completed	46
Active	44
Retired	2
General characteristics
Displacement	40 t (39 long tons)
Length	17.3m (56ft 9in)
Beam	5.9m (19ft 4in)
Draught	1.78m (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
Speed	25 knots (29 mph; 46 km/h)
Range	250  nmi (460 km)
Capacity	Self-righting 47 Non-self-righting 185
Complement	6

Severn-class lifeboat No. 17–31 at quay in Poole Harbour, Dorset, England, showing its foredeck

At 17.3 metres (56 ft 9 in) long, the Severn class is the largest lifeboat operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). Introduced to service in 1996, the class is named after the River Severn, the longest river in Great Britain. They are stationed at 35 locations around the coasts of the United Kingdom and Ireland to provide coverage up to 50 miles (80 km) out to sea.

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transferred to training work when it carried operational number TL-02 and was named Peter and Marion Fulton, but was withdrawn in 2004.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.^{[ citation needed ]} 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.^{[ citation needed ]}

• 
  Hull with bow thruster
• 
  Inside helm and controls
• 
  Engine room with Caterpillar 3412 TA marine diesel engines
• 
  Launching inflatable boat with on-board crane
• 
  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–	Tynemouth	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–	Relief fleet	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.

External links

• RNLI Fleet:Severn Class