Severn-class lifeboat

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File:Lifeboat.bows.17-31.arp.jpg
Severn-class lifeboat No. 17–31 at quay in Poole Harbour, Dorset, England, showing its foredeck

The Severn class is the largest lifeboat operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). The class, which is Template:Convert 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 Template:Convert out to sea.

History

In the 1980s the RNLI's fast Arun and Waveney all-weather lifeboats provided coverage Template:Convert out to sea, operating at up to Template:Convert to cover the distance in two hours in good weather. However, the RNLI felt that they needed the capability to extend their coverage to Template:Convert radius, which would require lifeboats with a top speed of Template:Convert. This resulted in the Template:Convert Severn and Template:Convert 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transferred to training work when it carried operational number TL-02 and was named Peter and Marion Fulton, but was withdrawn in 2004.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. Sold to Montrose Marine Services ltd in 2011 and renamed Eileen May. Sold 2019 into private ownership, based North Wales coast.[2][4]

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.[5] In the meantime, Tom Sanderson had been deployed at Stornoway in 1999. The Will returned to the relief fleet after its time at Falmouth until 2019, when it was the first Severn Class to undergo the Severn Life Extension Programme. 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.[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 Template:Sclass2 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.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Fleet

ONTemplate:Efn Op. No.Template:Efn Name In service[2] Station MMSI[9] Comments[2]
1179 17-01 Maurice and Joyce Hardy
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Peter and Marion Fulton 		1992–1995
1995–1998
1998–2004 		Trials
Trials
Training fleet (TL-02) 		232034092 Sold in 2005. Was named Gemini Storm but now known as Eileen May.[4]
1201 17-02 The Will (1996–2019)
 1996–1997
1997–2001
2001–2019 		Relief fleet
Template:Lbs
Relief fleet 		232001890 Severn Life Extension Programme, 17-02 becomes 17-51[2]
1202 17-03 Albert Brown 1996– Template:Lbs 232001910
1203 17-04 Spirit of Guernsey 1997– Template:Lbs 232001940
1216 17-05 Pride of the Humber 1997– Template:Lbs 232002440
1217 17-06 David Kirkaldy 1997– Template:Lbs 232002450
1218 17-07 John and Margaret Doig 1996– Template:Lbs 232002460
1219 17-08 Helmut Schroder of Dunlossit II 1997– Template:Lbs 232002470
1220 17-09 City of London II 1997– Template:Lbs 232002480
1221 17-10 Michael and Jane Vernon 1997– Template:Lbs 232002490
1229 17-11 The Whiteheads 1997– Template:Lbs 232003049
1230 17-12 Edna Windsor 1998– Template:Lbs 232003050
1231 17-13 Margaret Foster 1998– Template:Lbs 232003051
1232 17-14 Charles Lidbury 1998– Template:Lbs 232003052
1235 17-15 Bryan and Gordon 1998– Template:Lbs 232003133
1236 17-16 Violet Dorothy and Kathleen 1998– Template:Lbs 232003134
1237 17-17 Fraser Flyer
(Civil Service No.43) 		1999– Relief fleet 232003135
1238 17-18 Tom Sanderson 1999– Template:Lbs 232003136
1241 17-19 Ernest and Mary Shaw 1999– Template:Lbs 232003139
1242 17-20 Spirit of Northumberland 1999–2021
2021– 		Template:Lbs
SLEP Refit 		232003140
1243 17-21 David and Elizabeth Acland 1999– Template:Lbs 232003141
1244 17-22 Myrtle Maud 2000– Template:Lbs 232003142
1247 17-23 Katie Hannan 2000–2008 Template:Lbs 232004398 Damaged beyond economic repair after grounding on Rathlin Island.[10]
1248 17-24 Bon Accord 2000– Template:Lbs 232004399
1249 17-25 Eric and Susan Hiscock (Wanderer) 2001– Template:Lbs 232004401
1250 17-26 Henry Alston Hewat 2001– Template:Lbs 232004402
1254 17-27 Volunteer Spirit 2001– Relief fleet 232004406
1255 17-28 Alec and Christina Dykes 2001– Template:Lbs 232004407
1256 17-29 Richard Cox Scott 2001–2025
2025– 		Template:Lbs
Relief fleet 		232004408 [11]
1257 17-30 William Gordon Burr 2002–2008
2008– 		Relief fleet
Template:Lbs 		232004409
1260 17-31 Roger and Joy Freeman 2002– Relief fleet 235005115
1261 17-32 Ernest and Mabel 2002– Template:Lbs 235005118
1262 17-33 Beth Sell 2002– Relief fleet 235005116
1263 17-34 Osier 2002–2022
2021– 		Relief fleet
Template:Lbs 		235005119
1264 17-35 Sybil Mullen Glover 2003– Template:Lbs 235005121
1265 17-36 Ivan Ellen 2003– Template:Lbs 235005122
1268 17-37 William Blannin 2003– Template:Lbs 235007809
1269 17-38 Daniel L Gibson 2003– Relief fleet 235007799
1270 17-39 Elizabeth Fairlie Ramsey 2003– Template:Lbs 235007798
1271 17-40 Julian and Margaret Leonard 2003– Template:Lbs 235007797
1272 17-41 Christopher Pearce 2003– Template:Lbs 235007796
1273 17-42 The Taylors 2004– Template:Lbs 235007795
1276 17-43 Donald and Barbara Broadhead 2004– Template:Lbs 235010875
1277 17-44 Annette Hutton 2004– Template:Lbs 235010876
1278 17-45 The Duke of Kent 2005– Relief fleet 235013842
1279 17-46 Margaret Joan and Fred Nye 2004– Relief fleet 235010878

Template:Notelist

Severn Life Extension Programme

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.[12]

In early 2025 the RNLI announced that, following a fleet review, the Severn Life Extension Programme would not be continued beyond the two boats already in the programme. Instead Severns would be progressively withdrawn over the next fiteen years.[13]

Fleet

ONTemplate:Efn Op. No.Template:Efn Name In service Principal station MMSI[9] Comments
1201 17-51 "Ettrick Shepherd" Hogg Hardie [2] 232001890
1242 232003140

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References

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External links

Template:Sister project

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  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ a b c d e f g Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  9. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Lifeboat magazine, Spring 2025
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