The project team

Once the departments have established what the equipment has to do and agreed an outline schedule and costs, a project team is set up to carry out the design. The team is largely made up of RNLI engineering staff but also includes operational staff and representatives from around the coast. Various crew members are also involved throughout the project as their feedback is vital in delivering successful equipment.

How the team develops this equipment depends on how innovative it needs to be to meet the requirement. Sometimes it is possible to buy equipment off the shelf but many items will be unique to the RNLI and need to be designed from scratch. If this is the case the project moves to the feasibility and concept studies phase.