Severn – All Weather Lifeboat

The Severn class lifeboat is the largest lifeboat used by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), a UK charity dedicated to saving life at sea. The class is named after the River Severn, the longest river in Great Britain.

There are forty-six Severn class lifeboats serving the RNLI around the coast of the UK and Ireland since the introduction of the class in 1996. It carries a Y Class inflatable boat, which can be deployed by an on-board crane for use in shallow water.

Severns have a comprehensive electronics fit including full MF and VHF DSC radio equipment, DGPS Navigator, an electronic chart system, VHF/DF, radar and weather sensors. For added manoeuvrability, in addition to twin engines, the Severn also has a bow thruster fitted. The propellers are enclosed so the Severn can take ground without damaging them.

The Severn is constructed of fibre reinforced composite material, and the hard chine semi-displacement hull built to a two compartment standard, meaning it can stay afloat with two of its five compartments flooded. Provision for survivors includes comprehensive first aid equipment including stretchers, oxygen and Entonox.

Severns carry a portable salvage pump in a water-tight container, and can also carry out pumping and fire fighting tasks using the engine driven general service pump.

Category All-weather
Introduced 1995
Length 17m
Range 250 nautical miles
Speed 25 knots
Weight 41 tonnes
Crew 6
Construction Fibre reinforced composite
Launch type Moored afloat

Key Features

Self righting

All RNLI all-weather lifeboats are inherently self righting and undergo a rigorous righting trial before joining the fleet. Should an all-weather lifeboat be knocked over in extreme weather, it will automatically right itself within a few seconds.

Navigation and communication

All-weather lifeboats are fitted with the latest in navigation, location and communication equipment – including electronic chart plotter, VHF radio with direction finder, radar and global positioning systems (GPS). Inshore lifeboats and hovercraft also have VHF radio and GPS, with the Atlantic 85 and E class carrying the additional radar.

A complete tour of Guernsey’s Lifeboat

General Information

Country Guernsey, Channel Islands
Organisation RNLI
Royal National Lifeboat Institution Lifeboat class Severn / 17.00m
Name Spirit of Guernsey
Operational number 17-04
Internal Number ON 1203
Call sign VQFT6

Technical Data

Classification all-weather lifeboat
Propulsion motor
Launch method afloat
Selfrighting yes
Selfrighting type inherent
Hull type semi-planning
Hull material Fibre Reinforced Composite (FRC)
Superstructure material Fibre Reinforced Composite (FRC)
Length 17.00 m
Beam 5.49 m
Draught 1.37 m
Displacement 37.5 ton
Speed 25 knots
Propellers 2
Fixed pitch propellers 2
Engines 2x 1,200 = 2,400 hp
Engine manufacturer Caterpillar
Bowthrusters 1x
Range 250 nautical miles
Fuel consumption 480 l/h
Fuel capacity 5,500 litres
Survivor capacity, selfrighting 47
Survivor capacity, non-selfrighting 185
Crew 6 – 7