Design and build
Who decides what lifeboats and equipment are needed and how are they produced? Read on to find out how specialist RNLI staff decide upon, design, build and support these vital lifesaving tools.
Where do we start?
The need for a new lifeboat or equipment is identified by the RNLI operations department through an ongoing series of coastal reviews. These reviews can highlight needs for additional coverage, extra speed or other capability. These needs are then discussed with the RNLI technical department and, if viable, an operational requirement is created.
The operational requirement outlines the basic needs for the equipment. For a new lifeboat this would include how fast it must be, how far it must go, how it will be launched and recovered; and any boathouse limitations.