Diverse Marine builds NEW Lifeboat for Caister Volunteer Lifeboat Ser vice

Bac k in December 2021, Diverse Marine

L t d . a n d C a i s t e r Vo l u n t e e r L i f e b o a t Ser vice Ltd. announced t hat t he two p a r t i e s h a d s i g n e d a n ew v e s s e l cons truction agreement for a firs t of class 14m Medina Class Lifeboat.

Following a ver y successful self-righting trial in early April, Paul Garrod, chairman of Caister Lifeboat said: “The capsize test went ver y well and she’s looking good The next step will be finishing her off – completing the interior, and we hope to star t sea trials with her over the next few weeks We’re looking for ward to bringing her home sometime midsummer ”

Using a design from Walker Marine Design, the construction of the vessel at Cowes on the Isle of Wight completes the evolutionar y process that saw the original Medina Class Lifeboat built ver y close to the current build location over 35 years ago - before the design was adopted by the Dutch who built the station's current Lifeboat, ‘Bernard Matthews II’ 17 years ago

The 14m self-righting Lifeboat features an aluminium hull, deck and coach roof together with a resiliently mounted GRP wheelhouse to reduce noise and vibration for the crew The fully air-conditioned wheelhouse layout has been designed for up to six crew, all with designated AllSalt Maritime SHOXS 2000 seats Configuration is for a central helm station for ward, nav station aft to stbd and an additional dedicated space for stretcher and casualties

Twin Scania DI13-077M main propulsion engines drive twin Hamilton HJ364 water jet units for speeds in excess of 35 knots Twin helm stations feature Hamilton Jet’s AVX control system and Jet-Anchor functionality for station keeping A comprehensive navigation and communications suite has been supplied by Boat Electrics and Electronics Ltd

Ben Colman, Director of Diverse Marine says: “With the first sea trials now under way, the boat per formed well above expectations, achieving one knot over the contract speed, reaching 37 kts She was super quiet, ver y manoeuvrable and trimmed to per fection We are looking for ward to fine tuning her over the next couple of weeks prior to handover to Caister Volunteer Lifeboat Ser vice in June ” www diversemarine co uk