Please spare a minute tomorrow to remember the crew of the Penlee Lifeboat who tragically lost their lives on the 19th December 1981. In a valiant attempt to rescue the crew and passengers of the Union Star

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Tragedy – Nine Lies

• Date:
  25/09/2012
• Author: Sabina Eberle

The Shannon is the first modern RNLI all-weather lifeboat to be powered by water jets, not propellers, and capable of 25 knots the Shannon is 50% faster than the lifeboats it replaces – ensuring that those in need are reached even faster.

The charity will need to build over 50 new Shannons within the next ten years to replace the older classes of lifeboat. Once the newly designed Shannon class is rolled out, all RNLI all-weather lifeboats will be capable of 25 knots.

The Shannon class will improve the safety and effectiveness of the charity’s volunteer crews, thanks to its shock absorbing seats and computer monitoring and operating system. The charity estimates that the 50+ Shannons in the class will rescue over 56,000 people and save the lives of over 1,500 in its lifetime. The Shannon class is expected to make up almost a third of the RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat fleet.

Paul Boissier, RNLI Chief Executive says:
‘The Shannon class – the RNLI’s new class of lifeboat – has been carefully developed by our in-house team of naval architects, marine engineers and operators with the safety of the volunteer crews at the very heart of the design. Not only has the Shannon been developed to protect the volunteers as they save lives at sea, but to reach casualties faster and with improved manoeuvrability, when precision really matters. The roll out of the Shannon will complete our charity’s aim of having a fleet capable of at least 25-knots; we will be able to ‘get there faster’ for everyone, no matter where you are around the UK and Ireland.’

The RNLI has launched a £5M fundraising campaign to fund two Shannons and their launch and recovery vehicles for the relief fleet. These ‘relief lifeboats’  will be used to replace station boats when they go for maintenance or repair and will therefore operate at many places around the UK and the RoI.

from nicola_sheldrake@rnli.org.uk, Posted 23/08/2012 11:44 AM
For the first time in the RNLI’s history, we have launched a competition for children to name one of the first Shannon class lifeboats, our newest and most advanced class of all-weather lifeboat. We need you to spread the word to any children you know who may have some bright ideas!

As well as naming a Shannon class lifeboat, the winner and their family will be special guests at the lifeboat naming ceremony next year. The lifeboat will be part of the relief fleet and over the course of its operational lifetime will provide cover at lifeboat stations throughout the UK and the Republic of Ireland as needed.

Capable of 25 knots, the Shannon class is our most advanced lifeboat and is the first modern generation RNLI all-weather lifeboat to run on water jets instead of propellers. This will increase manoeuvrability in the water and enable more efficient sea rescues. It is the smallest and lightest of the charity’s new generation all-weather lifeboats and is designed to be launched and recovered from a beach or to lie afloat.

Chris Eves, Project Manager for the Shannon class lifeboat says: ‘The new Shannon class lifeboat is our most advanced lifeboat to date. Not only will it help RNLI volunteer crews to reach casualties faster, but it will also improve the safety of our volunteers while they are saving lives at sea.

‘This is the first time that we have ever offered the naming of a lifeboat as a prize. Traditionally RNLI lifeboats are named by a donor who has kindly given money to the charity, so this competition really is a once in a lifetime opportunity. I think the most exciting part of this competition is that the lifeboat could be in service for up to 50 years – this prize is something that will be cherished for a lifetime.’