Shannon Launch and Recovery System
| Shannon Launch and Recovery System | |
|---|---|
 Supacat SLARS Vehicle and Lifeboat | |
| Type | Launch vehicle |
| Manufacturer |
|
| Production | 1993– |
| Length | 22 m (72 ft) |
| Width | 3.5 m (11 ft) |
| Height | 4 m (13 ft) |
| Weight | 37 Tonnes |
| Propulsion | Track |
| Engine model | Scania DC13 12.7 litre turbo-charged diesel |
| Gross power | 331 kW (444 hp) |
| Drawbar pull | 18.5 Tonnes |
| Speed | 10 miles per hour (16 km/h) |
Shannon Launch and Recovery System (SLARS) is a custom designed tractor and trailer specifically designed for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) to launch and recover Shannon-class lifeboats.[1]
The SLARS is produced by two British companies, Supacat, based in Honiton, Devon, and Clayton Engineering Limited, based in Knighton, Powys. In 2015, Supacat rebranded as SC Innovation.[2]
Operation[edit]
The Shannon launch and recovery system (SLARS) was developed to launch and recover the 18-tonne Shannon-class RNLI lifeboat.[3][4]
Barmouth lifeboat 13-30 Ella Larsen
The lifeboat is launched, and recovered, bow-first. The carriage, mounted on tracked wheels, is used to transport a lifeboat from boathouse to sea. The carriage can then be tilted, effectively acting as a slipway to launch the boat when released.[5]
On return, the boat will be driven ashore. A synthetic winch line, designed not to recoil should it break, is attached to the bow of the lifeboat, and the carriage is again tilted to meet the bow of the boat. The lifeboat is then hauled up the carriage. When the carriage is returned to the horizontal, and the lifeboat securely attached, the top section of the carriage rotates 180° as a turntable, and the lifeboat is ready to relaunch.[5]
Both the tractor and carriage are tracked vehicles. In some locations, the carriage is also a powered unit, to assist traction and movement. The driver has two sets of controls, and can rotate the seat 180°. The high cab gives excellent visibility, with CCTV to assist. The cab is fully waterproof, and the vehicle can be operated in 2.4m of calm water.[5]
RNLI SLARS Fleet[edit]
| Op.No.[a] | Reg No. | Manufacturer | Name | Station | In service[6] | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC-T01 | WF13 ZNJ | Supacat | Unnamed | Relief fleet | 2013– | |
| SC-T02 | WG13 AKZ | Supacat | Unnamed | Relief fleet | 2013– | |
| SC-T03 | HK63 BVW | Supacat | Unnamed | Dungeness | 2014– | |
| SC-T04 | HF14 HFK | Supacat | Unnamed | Exmouth | 2014– | |
| SC-T05 | HF14 HLJ | Supacat | Unnamed | Relief fleet Lytham St Annes Relief fleet |
2014–2019 2019–2021 2021– |
|
| SC-T06 | HF14 HLK | Supacat | Roland Hough | Hoylake | 2014– | |
| SC-T07 | HF64 CVG | Clayton | June and Gordon Hadfield | Ilfracombe Relief fleet |
2014–2021 2021– |
|
| SC-T08 | HF15 FRX | Supacat | Kenneth George Fulford | St Ives | 2015– | |
| SC-T09 | HF65 HUA | Supacat | Unnamed | Relief fleet Bridlington Relief fleet |
2015–2017 2017–2019 2019– |
|
| SC-T10 | HF65 HPJ | Clayton | The Cairns | Scarborough | 2016– | |
| SC-T11 | HJ16 JVU | Supacat | Fred Henley | Skegness | 2016– | |
| SC-T12 | HJ16 JRU | Clayton | Miss Eileen Beryl Phillips | Selsey | 2017– | |
| SC-T13 | HF67 DSO | SC Innovation | Unnamed | Lytham St Annes Relief fleet Lytham St Annes |
2017–2018 2019–2021 2021– |
|
| SC-T14 | HF67 CAV | Clayton | Roy Barker | Llandudno | 2017– | |
| SC-T15 | LK18 FVU | SC Innovation | Unnamed | Bridlington | 2019– | |
| SC-T16 | HF18 DYS | Clayton | Richard and Mark Colton | Hastings | 2018– | |
| SC-T17 | HD66 VBJ | SC Innovation | Unnamed | Clogherhead | 2019– | |
| SC-T18 | HF68 DDL | Clayton | Unnamed | Barmouth | 2019– | |
| SC-T19 | HF69 CXV | SC Innovation | David Cooper | Seahouses | 2020– | |
| SC-T20 | HF19 EHH | Clayton | Violet Rose Saw | Rhyl | 2019– | |
| SC-T21 | HF20 EBD | SC Innovation | Unnamed | Relief fleet New Quay |
2019–2023 2023– |
|
| SC-T22 | HF69 DPO 1335 MAN |
Clayton | Unnamed | Peel | 2019–2023 2023– |
|
| SC-T23 | HF70 EBZ | SC Innovation | Unnamed | Ilfracombe | 2021– | |
| SC-T24 | HF70 EBK | Clayton | John Llewellyn Mostyn Hughes | Pwllheli | 2021– | |
| SC-T25 | GX71 CUW | SC Innovation | Unnamed | Relief fleet | 2022– | |
| SC-T26 | GX71 ETF PMN 747T |
Clayton | Unnamed | Ramsey | 2022– | |
| SC-T27 | HF22 BWJ | Clayton | Patricia Jean Bettany | Wells-next-the-Sea | 2022– | |
| SC-T28 | HF72 FXD | Clayton | Unnamed | Relief fleet | 2023– | |
| SC-T29 | HF73 BXN | Clayton | Unnamed | Anstruther | 2024– | |
| SC-T30 | Clayton |
- ^ Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the tractor.
See also[edit]
- Shannon-class lifeboat
- Talus MB-H amphibious tractor
- Talus MB-764 amphibious tractor
- RNLI New Holland TC45 launch tractor
- Talus Atlantic 85 DO-DO launch carriage
References[edit]
- ^ "The power behind the launch". RNLI. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
- ^ "SC Rebrand takes Supacat into new era". SC Innovation. 10 September 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
- ^ "SLARS". Clayton Engineering. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
- ^ "Lifeboat Launcher". SC Innovation. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
- ^ a b c "Shannon Launch and Recovery System (SLARS)". Launch and Recovery Equipment. Irish Lifeboats. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
- ^ Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2024). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 93–95.