THE STRUCTURAL AND STABILITY ASSESSMENT AND SUBSEQUENT RECOVERY OF A DAMAGED LIFEBOAT

摘要

In a challenging week that saw three separate incidents of vessels grounding in UK waters, an RNLI Severn classlifeboat on operational service grounded close in shore whilst trying to rescue a small boat aground on Rathlin Islandharbour breakwater. The resulting recovery operation, whilst not delivering an economically viable vessel, wassuccessful in preventing pollution and harm to a nominated Special Area of Conservation as well as salvaging thousandsof pounds worth of lifeboat equipment. This paper gives a background to the original design and construction of theSevern class lifeboat and describes the sequence of events that took place from the point at which the vessel grounded.The paper also reviews the theoretical and practical stability and structural analyses that were carried out to establish theresidual integrity of the lifeboat, and the recovery options in terms of damaged stability and structural integrity that wereinvestigated.