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New hull design announced for latest class of RNLI lifeboat
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The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)
has selected the new hull design for its latest class of
all-weather lifeboat, the Fast Carriage Boat 2 (FCB2). After
thoroughly testing six hull models, a design by the charity’s own
Naval Architects has been chosen.
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In 2008, rough-weather trials proved that the performance of the
experimental FCB2 boat’s original hull design in rough seas did
not meet the operational requirements for an RNLI lifeboat,
especially when travelling up-sea in steep waves. The decision was
taken to redevelop the hull. RNLI’s FCB2 Project Manager, Chris
Eves, comments:
‘The RNLI is committed to providing its volunteer crews with the
very best equipment to carry out their lifesaving role. The
introduction of FCB2, the Mersey class’s successor, will
ultimately mean the whole fleet of all-weather lifeboats have a 25
knot capability, meaning casualties can be reached more quickly
and efficiently. After initial trials found the original hull on
the experimental boat was not performing as required, it became
clear a hull redesign was needed – our volunteer crews and people
in danger at sea rely on the quality, safety and efficiency of
RNLI lifeboats.’
The hull design was opened to tender. Seven designs were submitted
– six from external companies and one from the RNLI.
Six scale models were then built and tested by Seaspeed Marine
Consulting Ltd. These models, driven by twin waterjets – as FCB2
will be – were self righting, radio controlled and fully
instrumented for both acceleration and motion in all three planes
(vertical, transverse and longitudinal) and incorporated a small
video camera in the wheelhouse at the coxswain’s position. To
recreate realistic conditions, most of the testing was completed
in open water in The Solent and Chichester Harbour, with extreme
weather surf-zone testing in Poole Bay. Additional testing to back
up the open water data was also completed by Seaspeed at QinetiQ’s
Ocean Basin and Ship Tank at Haslar, Gosport. Qinetiq donated
three days’ use of the tank to the RNLI, as the Institution is one
of QinetiQ’s five priority charities selected by its employees.
The key performance criteria for the new hull was to the reduce
up-sea slamming without compromising down-sea performance. All
models performed well in varying elements of the specification,
but the RNLI’s in-house design provided the best overall
performance.
 Chris Eves continues: ‘Although we have in-house Naval Architects,
we wanted to open the design process to external organisations, to
ensure we were considering all possible solutions. The models all
performed well in trials, but the RNLI’s in-house design has been
chosen as it provided the best performance across a wide spectrum
of requirements. The outcome is perhaps an indication of the
understanding the RNLI’s own Naval Architects have of the
requirements of the charity’s volunteer crews.’
Having chosen a hull, the next stage of the lifeboat’s development
is to optimise the hull form to further improve performance with
fuel economy being an important factor. The hull will then be
moulded and fitted out before completing sea trials scheduled for
mid 2011.
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Video provided courtesy of Seaspeed. |
Computer rendering of the new hull: RNLI FCB2 Project Team. |
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World Fishing Today April 16. 2009 |
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