Designed entirely in-house by a team of RNLI engineers, the RNLI harnessed cutting-edge technology to ensure this new lifeboat meets the demands of a 21st century rescue service.
The naming of our Shannon class lifeboat follows a tradition of naming lifeboats after rivers. But it’s the first time an Irish river has been chosen. The River Shannon is 240 miles in length and is the longest river in Ireland.
Length: OA 13.6m
Beam: 4.5m
Draught: 1m
Max. Speed: 25 knots
Range: 250 nm
Engines: 2 x 13-litre 650hp Scania D13 engines with twin Hamilton HJ364 waterjets
First introduced into the RNLI fleet in 1963, the D class lifeboat has served as the workhorse of the RNLI Inshore Lifeboat (ILB) fleet. Significantly smaller in comparison to the rest of the inshore fleet, the D-class is also the only vessel not to feature a rigid hull. The main aspect of the boat would be both its size and weight.
The D-class has been specifically designed as a light and highly manoeuvrable rapid response craft – a title which it gracefully exceeds.The current ILB, D805, entered service at Exmouth on 12 January 2017 and was the second D class lifeboat provided for us by Donor, Pauline Smith in memory of her Grandfather.
Length: 4.95m (16ft)
No. of crew: 3 or 4
Propulsion: Mariner 50hp outboard
Max speed: 25 knots
Endurance: 3 Hours at full speed
Displacement: 338 kg
