View from the crew: Coastal lifeboat

The RNLI’s rescue profile is changing, with 98% of services taking place within 10 nautical miles of shore. The new CLB will modernise our fleet, enhance operational capability, introduce digital systems and support a more sustainable, cost-effective operating model aligned with today’s lifesaving service.

As part of the RNLI’s Lifeboat Fleet Strategy, the CLB will provide both a near-shore lifesaving capability and flank cover for other inshore stations, supporting the wider fleet and helping meet evolving lifesaving demand.

The CLB is supplied with a watertight wheelhouse and will be self-righting. The strategy assumes that the CLB will not require cover from existing ALB classes but it is envisaged that it will provide cover to flank ILBs as presented within the strategy laydown.

The CLB will provide the following to our fleet:

• Deliver greater capability than an inshore lifeboat for weather conditions, endurance, towing, casualty care, and crew comfort and wellbeing.
• Be optimised for operations within 0 to 10 nautical miles offshore while remaining capable of operating up to 25 nautical miles offshore.
• Bridge the capability gap between the Atlantic 85 Mk4 and Shannon class lifeboats.

The project team continues to refine the design and requirements, with lifeboat crew playing an integral role in ensuring the CLB meets both crew needs and the requirements of the casualties they rescue.

Luke Wills, a volunteer for 22 years and now Coxswain at Falmouth Lifeboat Station, has been involved in supporting the project for the last 12 months and was part of the trials of the shortlisted suppliers.

‘All of our feedback has been welcomed and helped towards the choice of Zodiac as the preferred choice of partner to deliver the CLB. There does feel to be a step change in how this boat is being delivered compared to previous classes.

‘We are now moving into the more detailed aspects of the design which has been really interesting. The volunteer feedback group is meeting every other week on Teams to discuss and give feedback to the CLB team on operational aspects into the design, what could work, what couldn't and how we can overcome aspects and challenges.

‘The wider experience from the volunteers, not just operational but training, delivery, technical has been first class. When you sit on a Teams call in an evening, with 20 other lifeboat crew from around the RNLI looking at the CLB and what it could be, than you realise what an experienced, dynamic, willing team we have and the potential the CLB has with the RNLI team.

‘I think it's good news that we have partnered with a company like Zodiac to deliver the CLB, they are very experienced in design and operation of these types of craft, that expertise mixed with the RNLI crews' knowledge and experience means it should be a capable platform for our crews to put to sea in.’

Jon Cortlett, Coxswain of Peel lifeboat, has been volunteering at the RNLI for almost 26 years and has also been part of the volunteer user group.

‘I have been part of the focus group collaborating on the preliminary and detailed design ahead of the trial vessels being produced by Zodiac.

‘I can't wait to see this boat in the flesh. I think it will be the best (and most versatile) vessel in the fleet. I genuinely think it will transform not only how we crew vessels, but the way we save lives at sea.

‘I am proud and honoured to have been asked to be part of the focus group - I am glad that I have the opportunity to help shape a future vessel.’

What next?

The project team, supported by the lifeboat crew user group, is finalising the Coastal Lifeboat (CLB) design. Two prototype boats are planned for 2027, with the first operational CLB expected to enter service in 2028.

The first four Coastal lifeboats will be built by our supplier to provide a commercial benchmark, and, due to the demand of eight boats in the first year, at the same time production of four Coastal lifeboats is intended to happen at the RNLI’s production facility at the Lifeboat Support Centre in Poole. Beyond that, the RNLI intends to continue production of this class of lifeboat for the next eight years at its production facility in Poole.