PRACTICAL
markets? Dan is cautious about how this
could be achieved.
“While we could increase output by,
say, one or two boats per year to
introduce production space, there is a risk
involved in what the boats are likely to be
used for. After all, donations through
voluntary contributions are bound up with
saving lives at sea and any craft we
supplied would have to be used
specifically for that purpose.”
The RNLI recently announced plans to
reduce its fleet to three classes of ALB; the
Tamar, Severn and the Shannon. This will
hugely reduce the number of spare parts
held in stores and will standardise a lot of
the RNLI’s maintenance, training and
systems packages.
Marsden elaborates: “We’re also
looking at propulsion and what marine
engine technology will look like in the
future in terms of diesel and electric
powered units. We like to think the RNLI is
seen to be leading from the front. That
said, reliability remains a crucial factor.
“When the Mersey class was introduced
in 1988, it was considered very advanced
in design and specification. We like to
think we’ve emulated that with the
Shannon class programme.”
Around the factory
A tour of the factory begins in the
composite manufacturing facility where
hulls are laid up using a resin film infusion
process, involving layers of an adhesive-
backed fibre. A vacuum bag is then applied
to the structure to remove all the air before
the hull is heated using a two-stage
process and then allowed to cool.
“Our aim is to make the hull as damage
tolerant as possible,” explains Dan. “In
doing so, we decided to reduce the use ofcarbon fibre in the hull assembly process
lay-up. The wheelhouse had to be light to
aid the required self righting
characteristics so carbon is used more
extensively in that area.”
Significantly, the hull moulds, which
were originally made by MouldCam in
Brisbane, Australia, need to be able to
withstand the high temperatures
necessary to cure the composite material.
“The hull needs to be durable and
robust, and capable of lasting 50 years ofABOVE Work
progresses on a
Shannon class
vessel
LEFT Older RNLI
craft are also
refitted at Poole –
these are Severn
class boats