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Shannon Launch and Recovery System

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Shannon Launch and Recovery System
Supacat SLARS Vehicle and Lifeboat
TypeLaunch vehicle
Manufacturer
  • Supacat (later SC Innovation)
  • Clayton Engineering Limited
Production1993–
Length22 m (72 ft)
Width3.5 m (11 ft)
Height4 m (13 ft)
Weight37 Tonnes
PropulsionTrack
Engine modelScania DC13 12.7 litre turbo-charged diesel
Gross power331 kW (444 hp)
Drawbar pull18.5 Tonnes
Speed10 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

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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

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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
  1. ^ Op. No. is the RNLI's Operational Number of the tractor.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "The power behind the launch". RNLI. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  2. ^ "SC Rebrand takes Supacat into new era". SC Innovation. 10 September 2015. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  3. ^ "SLARS". Clayton Engineering. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  4. ^ "Lifeboat Launcher". SC Innovation. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  5. ^ a b c "Shannon Launch and Recovery System (SLARS)". Launch and Recovery Equipment. Irish Lifeboats. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  6. ^ Leonard, Richie; Denton, Tony (2024). Lifeboat Enthusiasts Handbook 2024. Lifeboat Enthusiasts Society. pp. 93–95.