Galway's New Lifeboat

vulcan57

Went down to the docks today to get a few pictures of the new Galway Lifeboat, an Atlantic 85, that arrived on Tuesday.























Thanks for looking

Goonerdee

Awesome.

ivabiggon

very impressive boat, great photos too, that winch is a great idea, how quick would it take to launch in anger?

goldie fish

Same Launch setup as Kinsale and Crosshaven.

Faing

As an ex trawlerman I have absolutely nothing but admiration for the lads (and lasses) that form the RNLI. They deserve to have the very best of equipment and the Atlantic 85 certainly fits the bill. I hope you never have to launch in earnest but if you do may God smile down on you all. Brave people.
(Nice set of pics btw)

alexlyons

great set of images, and a nice boat. pretty experienced at lifting boats and completely disagree with lifting with people in it, no matter what the situation. bad move by a good bunch (hq that is, assume it comes down from training above)

goldie fish

If it is done properly it is fine.
This is how the Navy do it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdFNZsVzznU

However their hook is hard mounted to the boat, with a ring on the wire, so you don't have a big swinging hook to worry about when launching or recovering.

ratracer

alexlyons wrote: »

great set of images, and a nice boat. pretty experienced at lifting boats and completely disagree with lifting with people in it, no matter what the situation. bad move by a good bunch (hq that is, assume it comes down from training above)

+1

And that pic was recovering the boat, should be absolutly no need for anyone to be in it. Galway docks doesn't exactly have the safest record when it comes to lifting boats out of the water, does it. (Aran Islands ferry anyone...):)

It's an awsome looking boat though, hope i don't need it.

vulcan57

ratracer wrote: »

+1

And that pic was recovering the boat, should be absolutly no need for anyone to be in it. Galway docks doesn't exactly have the safest record when it comes to lifting boats out of the water, does it. (Aran Islands ferry anyone...):)

It's an awsome looking boat though, hope i don't need it.

Can see where you are all coming from on this but a couple of things I could point out. Firstly, the RNLI taking safety matters very seriously indeed, so crew and casualties would never be put at any undue risk. The Atlantic 85 is designed and tested for this type of operation. The Davit is rated at 2500 Kg but is reckoned to be tested to 10000Kg and is specifically designed for "man riding". The strops are checked and changed regularly and again designed for this operation. All Strops, cables etc are subject to regular lifting gear inspections by specialist contractors. Check out the Workington Lifeboat, if you think this is bad, they have a davit launched 47 foot Tyne class all weather lifeboat. The RNLI have been using Atlantics for over 40 years, it being the boat that all RIB's have evolved from, originally design at Atlantic College in Wales, so the RNLI have the experience.

Tabnabs

alexlyons wrote: »

great set of images, and a nice boat. pretty experienced at lifting boats and completely disagree with lifting with people in it, no matter what the situation. bad move by a good bunch (hq that is, assume it comes down from training above)

It's standard practice to launch and recover rescue boats, lifeboats and work boats with the crew aboard in the commercial world. I've done it many times myself. Of course there are risks involved, but stepping off a boat onto a quay wall (especially if blocked with fish boxes etc) is probably far more dangerous. The only criticism I would have from those (excellent) photos posted is the manner in which they slide off the sponson onto the concrete surface below. Surely that's a H&S risk they can mitigate?

eg.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/irishflyguy/5864828634/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bispham2/3754153097/in/set-72157621820961024/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bispham2/3754953298/in/set-72157621820961024/

vulcan57

Tabnabs wrote: »

It's standard practice to launch and recover rescue boats, lifeboats and work boats with the crew aboard in the commercial world. I've done it many times myself. Of course there are risks involved, but stepping off a boat onto a quay wall (especially if blocked with fish boxes etc) is probably far more dangerous. The only criticism I would have from those (excellent) photos posted is the manner in which they slide off the sponson onto the concrete surface below. Surely that's a H&S risk they can mitigate?

eg.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/irishflyguy/5864828634/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bispham2/3754153097/in/set-72157621820961024/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bispham2/3754953298/in/set-72157621820961024/

If you also take Southend on Sea lifeboat, it's station is on the end of the worlds longest pleasure pier, a mile and a quarter from the shore and with no easy way down to the sea.

http://www.southendlifeboat.org/images/photos/station/hi_res/manridingdavit01.JPG



The RNLI Have been at this rescue lark longer than anyone in the world.