Royal National Lifeboat Institution News

The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has released its investigation report into the collision between the crude oil tanker Apache and the stern trawler Serinah (GH 116) in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland on 25 April 2024.At about 1503 on 25 April 2024, the crude oil tanker Apache and the stern trawler Serinah collided in the Firth of Clyde resulting in Serinah sinking rapidly. All three of the fishing vessel’s crew were able to abandon ship to the liferaft and were uninjured.When the collision happened Serinah was fishing a seabed depression in the middle of the Firth of Clyde…

Twelve British seafarers have been recognized for going above and beyond the call of duty, receiving the prestigious Merchant Navy Medal for Meritorious Service which is celebrating its 20th anniversary on Merchant Navy Day, September 3.Captain Chris Phillips, 56 from Pembrokeshire, bravely led his 30-person crew on a rescue mission during the dead of Winter in 2024, saving 89 lives at sea, including women and children, and a baby.Born from a long line of seafarers, Phillips was inspired by his father and grandfather, both sea Captains, to join the Merchant Navy at the age of 16.

MarineShift360 has unveiled the first cohort of its Impact Accelerator Program, selecting three pioneering organizations to advance sustainability across the marine industry.Following a competitive selection process, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI, United Kingdom and Ireland), Secfuel (Sweden), and BAR Technologies (United Kingdom) were chosen for their potential to drive measurable environmental impact and accelerate industry-wide transformation.Each participant will receive tailored technical support…

Stena Immaculate and the Portuguese-flagged container ship Solong Tanker, cargo ship collide off UK coast causing blaze and casualties.A chemical tanker and container ship collided off the northeastern coast of England on Monday causing a huge fire on at least one of the vessels and leading to numerous casualties.Authorities mounted an emergency response, and the coastguard agency said a helicopter, fixed-wing aircraft, lifeboats and nearby vessels with fire-fighting capability…

An oil tanker and a cargo ship a collided off the northeastern coast of England on Monday causing a huge fire, with authorities mounting an emergency response involving aircraft and lifeboats.Shipping industry sources told Reuters the two vessels involved were the chemical tanker Stena Immaculate and container ship Solong.Television images from the BBC showed at least one vessel ablaze with clouds of black smoke billowing into the air.The coastguard agency said a helicopter, fixed-wing aircraft, lifeboats and nearby vessels with fire-fighting capability were called to the incident.The Royal Na

2024 was another busy and eventful year for the Irish Coast Guard. The year in figures:The 44 Coast Guard Units were mobilised on 1,154 separate occasions this year;Coast Guard Helicopters conducted 752 missions;Critical assistance was provided to 537 persons (preventing loss of life, and/or delivery to appropriate medical care);Coast Guard helicopters conducted 134 air ambulance flights in support of the offshore island communities;Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats were launched on 699 occasions; andCommunity inshore rescue service was launched  for 73 taskings in 2024.Throughout the year, the Coast Guard coordinated 2,554 incidents which included search and rescue, maritime casualty responses and pollution and preparedness responses.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has selected SKYDEX Technologies to provide their shock mitigating kneeling decks to protect crews aboard their D Class Lifeboats.The D Class lifeboat is the busiest in the RNLI's fleet. However, due to its compact size and difficult operating environment, the crews aboard these craft are exposed to impacts and whole-body vibration, causing discomfort and reducing performance. In response, the RNLI launched an initiative to improve craft equipment to better protect their crew.Working with the RNLI…

The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has highlighted that, on average, crew have under 11 minutes to recover someone who has fallen overboard into cold water before they become unresponsive.An analysis of 20 accidents that occurred between 2017 and 2021 shows that the time decreases as the water becomes colder or the sea state rougher. In some cases, crew had just four or five minutes to coordinate a complex recovery.When examining the rate of successful recoveries…

Two small children were among the dozens of migrants rescued from the English Channel on Tuesday after a summer that has seen record numbers attempt the dangerous journey from France.This year, hundreds of boats carrying migrants have attempted the dangerous crossing from France to England, often in small, inflatable dinghies that get into difficulties in one of the world's busiest shipping lanes.On one day in August, at least 482 migrants crossed the Channel by boat, a record daily number.Reuters witnesses on Tuesday saw two boats arrive at the headland of Dungeness in Kent…

Three rescue craft came to the aid of a disabled cargo ship adrift in heavy seas and in danger of hitting the rocks off the Irish coast.The Antigua Barbuda-flagged general cargo vessel Lily B reported to MRCC Dublin Tuesday afternoon that it had lost power off the Waterford Harbor, southeast of Ireland.The Irish Coast Guard called upon three Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboats from Dunmore East, Kilmore Quay and Rosslare to aid the drifting vessel until a tug could arrive.Dunmore East's Trent…

The NEXT GEN Shock Mitigation Solutions Workshop has been rescheduled to October 6, 2020. The program and format will remain the same and the majority of attendees have confirmed their availability for the new date at the Grand Harbour hotel, Southampton UK.Workshop Lead, John Haynes said, “Whilst we are living in challenging times, we believe it is still important to make plans for the future. Our focus is on viable innovation and using people’s time effectively. There is no…

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has selected SHOXS suspension systems to refit and upgrade the charity’s Severn class lifeboats.Introduced to the RNLI in 1995, the 17-meter Severn class lifeboats are the largest lifeboats in the RNLI fleet and are designed to handle the toughest weather. The RNLI has chosen SHOXS 4800 variant seats for the coxswain, helm, mechanic, navigators, doctor and crew and plans to refit up to 44 Severn class lifeboats with SHOXS seating.“The volunteer crews of the RNLI head out when sea conditions are at their worst.

UPDATE [April 23]: This event has been rescheduled due to the coronavirus pandemic. It will be held October 6, 2020. More information is available here.Devices, apps and digital are coming fast at sea. As simple and cost effective technology solutions become available for boats, the NEXT GEN Shock Mitigation Workshop brings decision makers together to highlight the burning issues today and identify viable solutions for the future.Repetitive Shock and Whole Body Vibration (RS & WBV) has kept scientists busy in recent years.

The latest lifeboat to join the fleet of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, the main sea rescue service in the UK and Ireland, is the waterjet-propelled Shannon class, which the organization says is its most agile and maneuverable all-weather lifeboat yet to be deployed. Designed entirely in-house by RNLI engineers, cutting-edge technology has been used in this new boat to meet modern-day rescue service demands following the lead taken with the RNLI’s introduction of the Shannon’s sister lifeboat class…

Coming in the April 2019 edition of Maritime Reporter & Engineering News we report on the latest lifeboat to join the fleet of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, the main sea rescue service in the UK and Ireland, the waterjet-propelled Shannon class, RNLI says is its most agile and maneuverable all-weather lifeboat yet to be deployed.While the vessel and it's capabilities are amazing, we really like the new launch and recovery system. A special feature of the Shannon lifeboat…

3 One Day Workshops - Southampton UK April 2-4, 2019As the digital age rapidly arrives all around us, it (or IT) may have overlooked that safety at sea is still all about people. To meet the changing requirements of modern fleets, smart organizations and specialist equipment manufacturers now need to work together to blend traditional safety methods with innovation.A unique program of three specialist safety days for the sub IMO / sub 80 feet professional sector is being held back-to-back at the Grand Harbor overlooking the port of Southampton UK this April.

Three one-day workshops - Southampton, U.K. - April 2-4, 2019NEXT GEN 2019 is a series of specialist one-day workshops run back-to-back on April 2-4, 2019. The program combines hot topics and international maritime experts with dynamic panel discussions. The Grand Harbor is a conference venue overlooking the historic port of Southampton, U.K. Workshop Lead John Haynes said, "In recent years less people are expected to do more work and time is becoming scarce for everyone in the marine industry.

Maritime professionals from all sectors operating sub IMO / sub 80 feet vessels are invited to participate in three one-day NEXT GENERATION Workshops. The dynamic program is being held at the Grand Harbour conference venue, overlooking the port of Southampton U.K., on October 24, 25 and 26, 2017. The NEXT GEN Workshops each address aspects of operational safety for vessels, along with the safety and welfare of their crew and passengers. The high level group of presenters brings a wide range of experience and expertise from sectors including workboats…

More than 80 maritime professionals attended two unique one day events focused on the sub IMO / sub 24 meter sector in Southampton this April. The fast moving and dynamic one day workshops brought together an international group of experts armed with the latest knowledge to identify problems that affect the maritime sector worldwide. The superb team of presenters shared unique insights and highlighted potential solutions for a changing world. Workshop lead John Haynes said, “The format of these one day events is shaped by our experience and is constantly evolving.

The International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) is to strengthen the capacity and effectiveness of the Hellenic Rescue Team (HRT), an IMRF member organization which is constantly rescuing migrants in the Aegean Sea. The IMRF will do this with the support of European maritime search and rescue (SAR) organizations who are also IMRF members. Following a temporary drop in the number of people trying to reach the Greek islands by sea in November, figures from the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) are showing an increase again.

Engines customized for new Dutch search-and-rescue lifeboat vessels keep running after full rotation on axis. In thrashing, unforgiving seas, a capsized rescue vessel used to be a symbol of defeat. To withstand harsh conditions, sea vessels are designed to right themselves when overturned, but even more critical is the ability of the engines powering those vessels to withstand the 360-degree rollover with no compromise to performance. In these situations, the durability and resilience of a marine engine can be the difference between a rescue or a recovery.

The Canadian Lifeboat Institution (CLI) has taken delivery of a Tyne-class lifeboat from UK's RNLI and renamed the rescue vessel 'Fraser Lifeboat', informs the Chamber of Shipping of British Columbia. The Fraser Lifeboat originally entered service in 1987 as Famous Grouse for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). During her first career, the Tyne-class boat is credited with 363 launches leading to the rescue of 475 people and the saving of 37 lives. She was carried to Vancouver on board the vessel Star Lima due to the generosity of Grieg Star Shipping and following which the boat has been extensively overhauled to ensure reliability for her new role.

The International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC), North Sea Chapter once again recognized the very best in safety performance at its annual Safety Awards Ceremony held in Aberdeen. Julian Hall of Ensco, North Sea Chapter Chairman, said that it was important to recognize the contributions of individuals, teams and companies to the continuing safety of the industry. “It has not been an easy year, with safety dominated by understandable concerns regarding helicpter reliability.