- Arun class lifeboat
-
Class overview Builders: VT Halmatic
Fairey MarineOperators: 
Royal National Lifeboat InstitutionPreceded by: Waveney Succeeded by: Severn Cost: £1.5 million Built: 1971–1990 In service: 1971–2008 Completed: 46 Preserved: 1 General characteristics Displacement: 32 long tons (33 t) Length: 52 ft (16 m) or 54 ft (16 m) Beam: 17 ft (5.2 m) Draught: 5 ft (1.5 m) Propulsion: 2 × Caterpillar 460 hp (343 kW) diesel engines Speed: 18.5 knots (21.3 mph; 34.3 km/h) Range: 250 nmi (460 km) Complement: 6 The Arun class lifeboat is a fast all-weather lifeboat designed by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) for service at its stations around the coasts of Great Britain and Ireland. They were operated by the RNLI between 1971 and 2008. Many have been sold to see further service in the lifeboat and coastguard services of other countries.
The class takes its name from the River Arun in Sussex, England.
Contents
History
The RNLI's first lifeboat capable of speeds in excess of 10 knots (19 km/h) was the 14 knots (26 km/h) Waveney Class introduced in 1967. This was based on an American design, but in 1971 it was replaced by the Arun which was designed by the RNLI and gave vastly improved accommodation and increased the speed to 18.5 knots (34.3 km/h).[1]
The first prototype boat entered service at St Peter Port in 1972 but moved on to Barry Dock where it was stationed until 1997. Two more boats were introduced in 1973 and 1974 and then full production started in 1975 although small numbers of Waveneys were still built until 1982. By 1990 46 Arun Class boats had been launched. The following year saw the launch of the first 25-knot (46 km/h) Severn and Trent class boats.[2]
The three prototype boats were withdrawn in 1994–1997, the third of which then went on display at the National Lifeboat Museum. The production series boats were taken out of regular service between 1998 and 2007. While a few have found new uses around the coast of Great Britain, the majority have been sold to other lifeboat operators around the world, predominantly in China, Finland and Iceland[2] and some further boats were built new for service in Canada and Greece.[3] Those travelling long distances go as deck cargo on larger ships but those going to closer harbours are generally sailed across under their own power. The first boat to go to Iceland, the Richard Evans, was loaded as deck cargo on a container ship but was washed overboard during the passage – the only Arun to have been lost at sea.[4]
Design
The design was developed for the RNLI by J.A. MacLachlan working for naval architects G.L. Watson of Glasgow. Initially proposed with 'chines' along the hull to disperse the spray and improve stability when underway at speed, this caused a high deck above water which proved difficult when trying to get people aboard from the water, so the chines were dispensed with on the second boat and the deck curved down nearer the water.[5] The three prototypes were built with wooden hulls[6] and were respectively 51 feet 7 inches (15.72 m), 52 feet (16 m) and 54 feet (16 m) long. The next four boats were 54 ft (16 m) long[2] with glass reinforced plastic (GRP) hulls but the remainder were 52 ft (16 m) long. These all had GRP hulls except for one built in 1986 with a steel hull.[6] It was regarded as the best of the class for seakeeping, although the slowest.[citation needed] The GRP hulls were moulded in blue material in the outer skin. After a while it was found that water was accumulating in the fibreglass which added up to 2 tons to the weight. The boats had the coloured layer stripped off and replaced by a new one made with clear gel which reduced the amount of water absorbed.[5]
The large watertight cabin gave it self-righting capability. Two survivor cabins are situated below decks where first aid and emergency equipment is stowed. The hull is divided into 26 watertight compartments as protection against sinking should it be holed. There is also a flying bridge above the main cabin with an auxiliary steering position which can be used when additional height or visibility is required during an operation. The boat won a Design Council award in 1982.[6]
Two Caterpillar D343 460 hp (340 kW) diesel engines are fitted although there was some variation among the fleet. Fuel tanks have 620 gallon capacity which gives an operating range of 250 nautical miles (460 km).[6]
RNLI fleet
'ON' is the RNLI's sequential Official Number; 'Op. No.' is the operational number painted onto the boat.[2]
ON Op. No. Name Built In service Principal stations Further use 1018 52-01 Arun 1971 1972–1997 Barry Dock Commercial use at Dundee 1025 52-02 Sir William Arnold 1973 1973–1997 St Peter Port Pleasure boat at Cork 1037 54-03 Edward Bridges (C.S. No. 37) 1974 1975–1994 Torbay Preserved at Chatham Historic Dockyard 1049 54-04 Tony Vandervell 1976 1975–1999 Weymouth Finland 1050 54-05 B.P. Forties 1975 1975–1998 Aberdeen Iceland 1051 54-06 The Gough Ritchie 1976 1976–1998 Port St Mary Chile 1052 54-07 City of Bradford IV 1976 1977–1998 Humber (1977–1987)
Tobermory (1991–1998)Ship's tender in Sweden 1053 52-08 Joy and John Wade 1977 1977–2001 Yarmouth Iceland 1056 52-09 Spirit of Tayside 1978 1978–1999 Broughty Ferry Australia 1057 52-10 Solidan 1978 1978–2001 Lerwick (1978–1997) Iceland 1058 52-11 Elizabeth Ann 1979 1979–2001 Falmouth Australia 1059 52-12 Walter and Margaret Couper 1979 1979–2001 Campbeltown Finland 1061 52-13 George and Olive Turner 1980 1980–2000 Tynemouth Iceland 1062 52-14 Edith Emilie 1980 1980–1999 Pilot boat at Montrose 1067 52-15 Hyman Winstone 1980 1980–2002 Ballycotton (1985–1998) Madeira 1070 52-16 Richard Evans (C.S. No. 39) 1981 1981–2003 Portrush (1981–2000) Sold to Iceland but wrecked during delivery. 1071 52-17 Sir Max Aitken 1981 1981–2001 Trip boat on the River Crouch 1073 52-18 Robert Edgar 1981 1981–2002 St Mary's (1981–1997) Pleasure boat in New Zealand 1076 52-19 Marie Winstone 1981 1981–2002 Fishguard (1981–1994)
Torbay (1995–2001)Finland 1077 52-20 Duchess of Kent 1982 1982–2002 Madeira 1078 52-21 The Davina and Charles Matthew Hunter 1982 1982–2003 Mallaig (1982–2001) Iceland 1081 52-22 Ralph and Bonella Farrant 1982 1982–2003 Fenit (1994–1999) China 1082 52-23 Margaret Frances Love 1982 1983–2003 Valentia (1983–1996)
Barry Dock (1997–2003)China 1085 52-24 Mabel Alice 1982 1983–2003 Penlee Trip boat at Portishead 1086 52-25 A.J.R. & L.G. Uridge 1983 1983–2003 Finland 1092 52-26 St Brendan 1984 1984–2001 Rosslare Harbour Fishing boat at Holyhead 1093 52-27 Charles Brown 1984 1984–2005 Buckie China 1098 52-28 Sir Max Allen II 1984 1984–2005 Stornoway (1984–1999)
Longhope (1999–2004)China 1099 52-29 The Joseph Rothwell Sykes and Hilda M 1984 1984–2002 Stromness (1984–1998) Finland 1100 52-030 Snolda 1986 1986–2007 Aith (1986–1998) Iceland 1103 52-31 Newsbuoy 1984 1984–2004 Faroe Islands 1106 52-32 Keith Anderson 1985 1985–2003 Newhaven (1985–1999) China 1107 52-33 City of Belfast 1985 1985–2003 Donaghadee China 1108 52-34 Margaret Russell Fraser 1984 1986–2004 Iceland 1113 52-35 City of Dublin 1986 1986–2003 Howth Iceland 1118 52-36 Roy and Barbara Harding 1987 1987–2004 Galway Bay (1987–1997)
Castletownbere (1998–2004)Iceland 1123 52-37 Kenneth Thelwall 1987 1987–2004 Humber (1987–1997)
Holyhead (1998–2003)China 1134 52-38 City of Glasgow III 1987 1987–2005 Troon Iceland 1135 52-39 Mickie Salvensen 1988 1988–2006 Kirkwall (1988–1998) Iceland 1136 52-40 City of Plymouth 1987 1988–2004 Plymouth Iceland 1143 52-41 Ann Lewis Fraser 1988 1988–2004 Barra Island (1988–1998)
Tobermory (1998–2003)China 1144 52-42 Murray Lornie 1988 1989–2005 Lochinver Iceland 1149 52-43 The Queen Mother 1989 1989–2009 Thurso Sold to the Montevideo Pilot Association, Uruguay as Ederra 4[7] 1150 52-44 Hibernia 1989 1989–2007 China 1159 52-45 Mabel Williams 1990 1990–2007 Ballyglass (1990–1998) China 1160 52-46 Duke of Atholl 1990 1990–2007 Iceland Other fleets
Australia
Name RNLI ON Built Sold Station[2] P V Danial Thain 1056 1978 1999 Port Stephens, New South Wales P&O Nedlloyd Encounter 1058 1979 2002 Ulladulla, New South Wales Canada
Main article: Canadian Coast Guard Arun-class lifeboatsTen boats were built for the Canadian Coast Guard, they were all built in Canada with aluminium hulls except for the British-built prototype which has a steel one.[3]
Chile
Name RNLI ON Built Sold Station Comments[2] Capitan Eduardo Simpson Roth 1051 1976 1998 Valparaiso 54 ft (16 m) boat China
Name RNLI ON Built Sold Station[2] Huaying 390 1150 1989 2007 Waigaoqiao Huaying 391 1159 1990 2007 Donghai Huaying 392 1143 1988 2006 Shantou Huaying 393 1081 1982 2004 Fuzhou Huaying 394 1107 1985 2004 Dalian Huaying 395 1106 1985 2004 Dalian Huaying 396 1093 1984 2005 Shenzen Huaying 397 1098 1984 2005 Zhangjiang Huaying 398 1082 1982 2004 Donghai, Shanghai Huaying 399 1123 1987 2004 Wenzhou, Zhejiang Denmark
Name RNLI ON Built Sold Station[2] Ziska 1103 1984 2005 Klaksvik, Faroe Islands Finland
Name RNLI ON Built Sold Station Comments[2] Hebe 1086 1983 2003 Kemi Janne Malén 1099 1984 2002 Uusikaupunki Mac Elliott 1049 1975 1999 Porkkala, Helsinki 54 ft (16 m) boat Russarö 1059 1979 2001 Hanko Torbay 1076 1981 2002 Kaskinen Greece
The Greek boats were built in the United Kingdom with GRP hulls.[citation needed]
Iceland
Name RNLI ON Built Sold Station Comments[2] Asgimur S Bjornsson 1057 1978 2002 Reykjavik Bjorg 1053 1977 2002 Rif Einar Sigurjonsson 1078 1982 2003 Hafnarfjordur Jon Oddgeir[citation needed] 1061 1980 2000 Relief Reported for sale in 2008 1070 1981 2003 Wrecked on passage to Iceland Gunnbjorg 1118 1987 2004 Raufarhofn Replacement for ON 1070 lost on passage Hafbjorg 1113 1986 2004 Neskaupstadur Hannes Þ Hafstein 1050 1975 1999 Sandgerdi[citation needed] 54 ft (16 m) boat, previously Oddur V Gislason but replaced by ON 1100. Hunabjorg 1136 1987 2005 Skagastrond Ingibjorg 1108 1986 2006 Hornafjordur Oddur V Gislason 1100 1986 2007 Grindavik Steel hull Sigurvin 1144 198 2005 Siglufjordur Sveinbjörn Sveinsson 1134 1987 2006 Vopnafjordur Vordur II 1135 1988 2006 Patreksfjordur Gunnar Fridriksson[citation needed] 1160 1990 2007 Isafjordur Madeira
Name RNLI ON Built Sold Station[2] ? 1067 1980 2003 Canical ? 1077 1982 2003 Canical References
- ^ Wake-Walker, Edward (2008). The Lifeboats Story. Stroud: Sutton Publishing. pp. 59–63. ISBN 0-7509-4858-6.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Denton, Tony (2009). Handbook 2009. Shrewsbury: Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 26–33.
- ^ a b Leach 2011, pp. 34-35
- ^ Kipling, Ray; Kipling, Susannah (2006). Never Turn Back. Stroud: Sutton Publishing. p. 173. ISBN 0-7509-4307-6.
- ^ a b Kipling, Ray; Kipling, Susannah (2006). Never Turn Back. Stroud: Sutton Publishing. pp. 85–87. ISBN 0-7509-4307-6.
- ^ a b c d Wake-Walker, Edward; Deane, Heather and Purches, Georgette (1989). Lifeboat! Royal National Lifeboat Institution. Shepperton: Ian Allan. pp. 38–41. ISBN 0-7110-1835-9.
- ^ Leach 2011, p. 122
Bibliography
- Leach, Nicholas (2011). Arun Lifeboats - An Illustrated History of the RNLI Arun lifeboats 1971-2009. Cudham, Kent, United Kingdom: Kelsey Publishing Group. ISBN 978-1-907426-21-6.
Classes of Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats Operational fleet All-weather lifeboatsInshore lifeboatsSmall inflatablesExperimental lifeboatsShannonHistoric lifeboats Up to 10 knotsBarnett • Clyde • Liverpool • Oakley • Peake • Rother • Solent •Above 10 knotsArun • Brede • Thames • WaveneyInshore lifeboatsA Class: Hatch • McLauchlan • B Class: Atlantic 21 • C Class: Zodiac IV • D Class: EA16Experimental lifeboatsKeith Nelson • MedinaRoyal National Lifeboat Institution Categories:- Classes of RNLI lifeboat
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