RNLI Lifeboats
The RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) are a charity which has been saving lives at sea since 1824. They rely entirely on public donations to be able to provide an on call 24-hour lifeboat search and rescue service and a seasonal lifeguard service. They aim to educate, influence, supervise and rescue those in and around the water.
As technology advances, it is important for the RNLI to keep up to date with the latest innovations and incorporate the latest science and engineering for their lifeboats. This is what will ensure a sustainable future and allow them to continue saving lives for another 200 years. The RNLI have a number of different lifeboats in their fleet which accommodate different conditions, ranging from inshore lifeboats, including the D-class and Atlantic 85, to the All-Weather Lifeboats, including their latest Shannon Lifeboat. Designed and built entirely in house by the RNLI, the Shannon lifeboat is propelled by water jets allowing it to operate in shallow waters and making it the most agile in the fleet.
The RNLI has two manufacturing centres, one in Poole and one on the Isle of Wight. The Poole site builds, repairs and maintains the charity’s All-weather lifeboat fleet and the centre on the Isle of Wight looks afters it inshore lifeboats. By bringing every stage of the building process in house and having skilled teams of engineers it means the RNLI has greater control over quality and costs.
The Poole site also hosts a training college for the charity’s lifesavers who attend courses to learn and hone their skills in preparation for facing all manner of conditions when savings lives at sea.