Hoylake RNLI coxswains gear up for their new lifeboat

Four coxswains are spending the week at the RNLI College in Dorset to prepare for the arrival of their state-of-the-art new Shannon class lifeboat.

The Shannon is the charity’s first modern all-weather lifeboat to be propelled by water jets instead of propellers and so the coxswains, who could all potentially be in command of the lifeboat and her crew during life-saving rescues, must become familiar with how the vessel operates before they can begin using it off the Wirral coast.

Dave Whiteley, Hoylake RNLI Coxswain, said the training will help ensure the transition from the station’s current Mersey class lifeboat to the new Shannon is as smooth as possible.

He explained: "Everyone at Hoylake lifeboat station is very proud that we are going to be one of the first in the UK to receive a new Shannon and a huge amount of planning and training has already gone into making sure we are ready for her arrival next month.

"The Shannon is an impressive vessel, and a very different lifeboat to the Mersey class Lady of Hilbre which we have operated at Hoylake since 1990. The Shannon is much faster and the fact it is jet propelled means it behaves differently from a boat with propellers but once you’ve mastered that, it is much more agile and easy to manoeuver in shallow water."

Joining Dave at the RNLI College in Poole are 2nd Coxswain/Mechanic Andy Dodd and Deputy 2nd Coxswains Emily Jones and Steve Armitage.

They are being put through their paces on a relief Shannon, practicing difficult manoeuvers, high-speed work and recovering casualties as well as becoming familiar with the high-tech electronic systems which allow the crew to control a lot of the lifeboat's functions from the relative safety of their seats.

Hoylake’s new Shannon class lifeboat is due to arrive at the lifeboat station in early December.

She has been funded in part by a generous legacy left to the charity by Miss Paulette Micklewood, from Oxford, and will be named Edmund Hawthorn Micklewood in memory of Miss Micklewood’s father.

A community fundraising appeal also contributed towards the cost of the £2 million lifeboat.

Volunteer shore crew members at Hoylake RNLI have already undergone training on the new Launch and Recovery rig which accompanies the Shannon.

This bespoke piece of equipment is capable of operating on the most challenging of beaches due to its all-track drive system.

It operates as a "mobile slipway" and will make the lifeboat launch and recovery process both faster and safer.

Next week, crew members who serve as mechanics will be at the RNLI College for specialist training which will allow them to maintain the Shannon’s two engines and waterjets.

Following the new lifeboat’s arrival at Hoylake, there will be a week of intensive training for the crew before the lifeboat is put on service and the Mersey withdrawn.

A Shannon class lifeboat. Credit RNLI/Nathan Williams.

SHANNON FACTS: 

• The Shannon class is the RNLI’s next generation all-weather lifeboat (ALB) and is the most agile in the RNLI fleet.
   
• The Shannon is the first modern RNLI all-weather lifeboat to be propelled by water jets and not propellers.
   
• Capable of 25 knots the Shannon is 50% faster than the lifeboats it replaces – ensuring that those in need are reached even faster.
   
• The Shannon will replace both a selection of Mersey and Tyne class lifeboats, which are now nearing the end of their planned 25-year life span (the Mersey and Tyne have a lower maximum speed of 17 knots).
   
• Once the roll out of the Shannon class is complete, the RNLI will have achieved its aim of providing a fleet capable of operating at up to 25 knots around the coasts of the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

• Operating with water jets instead of propellers will increase the manoeuvrability of the Shannon class and enable more efficient sea rescues. The water jets will also allow the volunteer crews to operate in shallow waters and reduce the risk of damage to the lifeboat during launch and recovery, or when intentionally beached.

• It is the smallest and lightest of the charity’s 25-knot all-weather lifeboats and is light enough to be launched and recovered from a beach. As with other all-weather lifeboats she will be inherently self-righting in the event of capsize and will be able to cope with the roughest of conditions.

Over their planned lifespan, Shannon class lifeboats are expected to:

• Make up over a third of the RNLI all-weather lifeboat fleet
• Rescue over 56,000 people
• Launch over 43,000 times