Arun-class lifeboat


The Arun-class lifeboat is a fast all-weather lifeboat designed by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution for service at its stations around the coasts of the United Kingdom and Ireland. They were operated by the RNLI between 1971 and 2008. Many have been sold to see further service in the lifeboat and coastguard services of other countries.
The class takes its name from the River Arun in Sussex, England.

History

The RNLI's first lifeboat capable of speeds in excess of was the boats introduced in 1967. This was based on an American design, but in 1971 it was supplemented by the Arun class which was designed by the RNLI and gave vastly improved accommodation and increased the speed to.
The first prototype boat entered service at in 1972 but moved on to where it was stationed until 1997. Two more boats were introduced in 1973 and 1974 and then full production started in 1975 although small numbers of Waveney-class boats were still built until 1982. By 1990, 46 Arun-class boats had been launched. The following year saw the launch of the first - and boats.
The three prototype boats were withdrawn between 1994 and 1997, the third of which then went on display at the National Lifeboat Museum. The production series boats were taken out of regular service between 1998 and 2007. While a few have found new uses around the coast of Great Britain, the majority have been sold to other lifeboat operators around the world, predominantly in China, Finland and Iceland, and some further boats were built new for service in Canada and Greece. Those travelling long distances go as deck cargo on larger ships but those going to closer harbours are generally sailed across under their own power. The first boat to go to Iceland, Richard Evans, was loaded as deck cargo on a container ship but was washed overboard during the passage – the only Arun to have been lost at sea.
After their RNLI service, 35 boats joined other fleets to continue their service as lifeboats. As of Dec 2023, it is thought that 12 are still in service, with 2 under restoration.

Design

The design was developed for the RNLI by J.A. MacLachlan working for naval architects G.L. Watson of Glasgow. Initially proposed with chines along the hull to disperse the spray and improve stability when underway at speed, this caused a high deck above water which proved difficult when trying to get people aboard from the water, so the chines were dispensed with on the second boat and the deck curved down nearer the water. The first three boats were built with wooden hulls and were respectively, and long, the extra length due to a rounded transom. All differed in superstructure design, 52-01 having a raked back superstructure front with the flying bridge at the after end. 52-02 introduced forward raked wheelhouse windscreens, had a unique wheelhouse side window pattern and retained the aft mounted flying bridge. On 52-03, the flying bridge was moved to the forward end of the wheelhouse, the front of which was rounded. From 54-04, the forward flying bridge was standardised and the forward raked wheelhouse windscreens were reintroduced. The side windows were recessed from the superstructure sides. 54-04 had a Glass Reinforced Plastic hull and this was standardised for future boats. 54-04 to 54-07 retained the rounded transon but from 52-08 a square transom was reintroduced. The final external change came with 52-11 which had flush sided forward wheelhouse windows and this was a feature of all subsequent boats. In 1986 52-030 became the only steel-hulled Arun. It was regarded as the best of the class for seakeeping, although the slowest. The GRP hulls were moulded in blue material in the outer skin. After a while it was found that water was accumulating in the fibreglass which added up to two tons to the weight. The boats had the coloured layer stripped off and replaced by a new one made with clear gel which reduced the amount of water absorbed.
The large watertight cabin gave it self-righting capability. Two survivor cabins are situated below decks where first aid and emergency equipment is stowed. The hull is divided into 26 watertight compartments as protection against sinking should it be holed. There is also a flying bridge above the main cabin with an auxiliary steering position which can be used when additional height or visibility is required during an operation. The boat won a Design Council award in 1982.
Two Caterpillar D343 diesel engines were fitted to boats up to 52-14, subsequent boats being fitted with two Caterpillar 3408TA diesel engines. Fuel tanks have capacity which gives an operating range of.

Other fleets

Australia

Operated by the Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol, later Marine Rescue NSW
RNLI ONNameIDStationMMSIComments
1056PV Danial ThainPS401999–2017Port Stephens503277900Sold 2017. Danial Thain owned by ECA Maritime College based in Brisbane, Queensland, November 2024.
1058Ulladulla 302002–2013Ulladula503003630Sold 2013. Pleasure/CG Boat, Hope Island Marina, Queensland, November 2024.

Canada

Ten boats were built for the Canadian Coast Guard between 1989 and 1996.
The first, a GRP-hulled British-built prototype was built by Halmatic, Southampton. The remaining nine boats were all built in Canada by Industrie Raymond Ltée of Sept-Iles, Quebec; East Isle Shipyard Ltd. of Georgetown, Prince Edward Island; and Hike Metals & Shipbuilding Ltd. of Wheatley, Ontario, all with aluminium hulls. They are considered "high endurance" lifeboats staffed by a crew of four. The Canadian Coast Guard also maintains approximately three dozen smaller s.
They are considered "medium endurance" lifeboats.
CCGS ONNameCall SignStationMMSIComments
825043BickertonCG3011Bickerton East, NS316001619Decommissioned. November 2023, at Samsons shipyard, Petit De Grat in Cape Breton, For Sale
815532SpindriftCG22601992–2023Louisbourg, NS316001785November 2023, Training vessel at the Canadian Coast Guard College, in Sydney, Nova Scotia.
816536SprayCGVF316001617
816537Courtney BayCG2240316001621
817948W. JackmanCG30681994–2023Burin, NL316003310November 2023, For Sale
817949W.G. GeorgeCG30641994–Burgeo, NL316001367Training vessel at the Canadian Coast Guard College, in Sydney, Nova Scotia.
819269Clark's HarbourCG26121995–2023Clark's Harbour, NS316001616November 2023, at Canadian Coast Guard College, in Sydney, Nova Scotia, For Sale / Breaking for spares.
819270CG2682316001604
819305SambroCG2613316001601
820275WestportCG23881996–Westport, NS316001892

Chile

Operated by Bote Salvavidas de Valparaiso, Chile
RNLI ONNameIDStationComments
10511998–2018ValparaísoDecember 2018, Workboat in Salmonera, Chile

Faroe Islands

Operated by Norðoya Bjargingarfelag
RNLI ONNameIDStationMMSIComments
1103ZiskaXPZX2005–2023Klaksvik2313930002023, Replaced by a new Ziska, Renamed Arun, and retained as backup craft.
1103ArunXPZX2023–2025231393000Listed For Sale, 2025

Finland

Operated by the Finnish Lifeboat Institution
RNLI ONNameStationMMSIComments
1049PR Mac Elliot273349590
1059Arvinsilmä2001–2002Hanko273296760Renamed Russarö in 2002
1059Russarö2002–2013Hanko273296760Sold November 2013 to Russia for SAR operations.
1076PR Torbay2002–Kaskinen230983310
1086PR Hebe276010130Sold 2020 to the Estonian Rescue Services Agency
10992002–Uusikaupunki230983340

Estonia

Operated by the Estonian Rescue Services Agency
RNLI ONNameStationMMSIComments
1086Habe 12020–Hundipea
Estonia		276010130

Greece

The Greek boats were built in Greece by MotoMarine with GRP hulls. Ten are in service with the Hellenic Coast Guard.

Iceland

The Slysavarnafélagið Landsbjörg was founded in 1999 after merging the Slysavarnafélag Íslands and Landsbjörg and has responsibility for rescue operations in Iceland. The Slysavarnafélagið Landsbjörg is divided into both land and sea rescue teams and with main office in Reykjavík. ICE-SAR has a fleet of all weather lifeboats, FRC and rescue boats around the coast of Iceland.
RNLI ONICE-SARStationMMSIComments
10502310251404110
1053Björg25422002–2019Rif244547000
105725412002–2021Reykjavík251275110
10612474Relief fleet from March 2008. Out of Service 2011. Reported damaged beyond repair, disposed of 2015.
10782593231874000
1100Oddur V. Gíslason27432007–Grindavík251811110Steel Hull
1108Ingibjörg26382005–Höfn251363110In use by Björgunarfélag Hornafjarðar, SAR team
11132629251169740
1118Gunnbjörg26232004–Raufarhöfn251448110Replacement for ON 1070 lost on passage
1134Sveinbjörn Sveinsson26792006–Vopnafjörður251545110
1135Vörður II26812006–Patreksfjörður251778110
1136Húnabjörg26372005–Skagaströnd251169840
1144Sigurvin26832006–2023SiglufjörðurSold 2023 to Kuummiit, Greenland.
11602742251297110

Madeira

Operated by SANAS Madeira
RNLI ONNameStationMMSIComments
1067?2003–2015Porto Santo2023, Undergoing restoration
10772003–Centro de Salvamento Costeiro, Santa Cruz da Madeira2556706502023, Undergoing restoration