In the 1980s the RNLI's fast Arun and Waveney all-weather lifeboats provided coverage 30miles out to sea, operating at up to 18kn to cover the distance in two hours in good weather. However, the RNLI felt that they needed the capability to extend their coverage to 50miles radius, which would require lifeboats with a top speed of . This resulted in the 17m (56feet) Severn and 14m (46feet) Trent lifeboats.[1]
The prototype Severn was launched in 1991 (ON1179) and was named Maurice and Joyce Hardy. Trials started the following year and lasted until 1998.[2] In 1995, the boat was de-named. Problems were encountered during the trials with the "skegs" that protected the propellers, but were designed to protect the hull by breaking off if the boat hit rocks, as the first ones were too easily broken. Crashing through heavy seas at full speed caused damage to the hull, too.[3] It was transferred to training work when it carried operational number TL-02 and was named Peter and Marion Fulton, but was withdrawn in 2004. It was sold in 2005; in 2008 it was in use as a dive boat at Buckie, carrying the name Gemini Storm.[2] Sold to Montrose Marine Services ltd in 2011 and renamed Eileen May. Sold 2019 into private ownership, based North Wales coast.The first production Severn was The Will. It had been built in 1995 by Berthon Boat Co (Builders of 21 of the 46 Severn-class lifeboats) for Stornoway but had to undergo several modifications before it was fit for service. It was eventually placed in the relief fleet in 1996 and shown to many lifeboat stations where the class was expected to be deployed. It so impressed the crew at Falmouth that they pressed the RNLI to station it there until their own boat was built, and so it was stationed there from January 1997 until December 2001 when it was replaced by Richard Scott Cox.[4] In the meantime, Tom Sanderson had been deployed at Stornoway in 1999. The Will returned to the relief fleet after its time at Falmouth until 2019, when it was the first Severn Class to undergo the Severn Life Extension Programme. Construction of its sister boats continued until 2005.[2]
In 2015, the Canadian Coast Guard commissioned a version of the Severn class modified for extreme conditions found off the coast of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia.[5]
Severns are constructed of fibre reinforced composite material, and their hard chine semi-displacement hull is built so that it will stay afloat with two of its five compartments flooded. For added manoeuvrability, in addition to twin engines, the Severn also has a bow thruster fitted.[6] The propellers are enclosed so that the Severn can take ground without damaging them. A inflatable boat can be deployed by an on-board crane for use in shallow water or confined spaces.[7]
Severns have comprehensive electronics systems that include full MF and VHF DSC radio equipment, differential GPS navigator, an electronic chart system, VHF radio direction finder, radar and weather sensors. Provision for survivors includes comprehensive first aid equipment including stretchers, oxygen and Entonox. They carry a portable salvage pump in a water-tight container, and can also carry out pumping and fire-fighting tasks using the engine-driven general service pump.
| ON | Op. No. | Name | In service [8] | Station | MMSI[9] | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1179 | Maurice and Joyce Hardy (1992–1995) Unnamed 1995–1998 Peter and Marion Fulton (1998–2004) | 1998–2004 | Trials Training fleet (TL-02) | 232034092 | Sold in 2005. Was named Gemini Storm but now known as Elieen May.[10] | |
| 1201 | 17-02 | 1996–1997 1997–2001 2001–2019 | Relief fleet Relief fleet | 232001890 | Programme, 17-02 becomes 17-51 | |
| 1202 | 17-03 | Albert Brown | 1996– | 232001910 | ||
| 1203 | 17-04 | Spirit of Guernsey | 1997– | 232001940 | ||
| 1216 | 17-05 | Pride of the Humber | 1997– | 232002440 | ||
| 1217 | 17-06 | David Kirkaldy | 1997– | 232002450 | ||
| 1218 | 17-07 | John and Margaret Doig | 1996– | 232002460 | ||
| 1219 | 17-08 | Helmut Schroder of Dunlossit II | 1997– | 232002470 | ||
| 1220 | 17-09 | City of London II | 1997– | 232002480 | ||
| 1221 | 17-10 | Michael and Jane Vernon | 1997– | 232002490 | ||
| 1229 | 17-11 | The Whiteheads | 1997– | 232003049 | ||
| 1230 | 17-12 | Edna Windsor | 1998– | 232003050 | ||
| 1231 | 17-13 | Margaret Foster | 1998– | 232003051 | ||
| 1232 | 17-14 | Charles Lidbury | 1998– | 232003052 | ||
| 1235 | 17-15 | Bryan and Gordon | 1998– | 232003133 | ||
| 1236 | 17-16 | Violet Dorothy and Kathleen | 1998– | 232003134 | ||
| 1237 | 17-17 | Fraser Flyer (Civil Service No.43) | 1999– | Relief fleet | 232003135 | |
| 1238 | 17-18 | Tom Sanderson | 1999– | 232003136 | ||
| 1241 | 17-19 | Ernest and Mary Shaw | 1999– | 232003139 | ||
| 1242 | 17-20 | 1999–2021 2021– | SLEP Refit | 232003140 | ||
| 1243 | 17-21 | David and Elizabeth Acland | 1999– | 232003141 | ||
| 1244 | 17-22 | Myrtle Maud | 2000– | 232003142 | ||
| 1247 | 17-23 | Katie Hannan | 2000–2008 | 232004398 | Damaged beyond economic repair after grounding on Rathlin Island.[11] | |
| 1248 | 17-24 | Bon Accord | 2000– | 232004399 | ||
| 1249 | 17-25 | Eric and Susan Hiscock (Wanderer) | 2001– | 232004401 | ||
| 1250 | 17-26 | Henry Alston Hewat | 2001– | 232004402 | ||
| 1254 | 17-27 | Volunteer Spirit | 2001– | Relief fleet | 232004406 | |
| 1255 | 17-28 | Alec and Christina Dykes | 2001– | 232004407 | ||
| 1256 | 17-29 | Richard Cox Scott | 2001– | 232004408 | ||
| 1257 | 17-30 | William Gordon Burr | 2002–2008 2008– | Relief fleet | 232004409 | |
| 1260 | 17-31 | Roger and Joy Freeman | 2002– | Relief fleet | 235005115 | |
| 1261 | 17-32 | Ernest and Mabel | 2002– | 235005118 | ||
| 1262 | 17-33 | Beth Sell | 2002– | Relief fleet | 235005116 | |
| 1263 | 17-34 | Osier | 2002–2022 2021– | Relief fleet | 235005119 | |
| 1264 | 17-35 | Sybil Mullen Glover | 2003– | 235005121 | ||
| 1265 | 17-36 | Ivan Ellen | 2003– | 235005122 | ||
| 1268 | 17-37 | William Blannin | 2003– | 235007809 | ||
| 1269 | 17-38 | Daniel L Gibson | 2003– | Relief fleet | 235007799 | |
| 1270 | 17-39 | Elizabeth Fairlie Ramsey | 2003– | 235007798 | ||
| 1271 | 17-40 | Julian and Margaret Leonard | 2003– | 235007797 | ||
| 1272 | 17-41 | Christopher Pearce | 2003– | 235007796 | ||
| 1273 | 17-42 | The Taylors | 2004– | 235007795 | ||
| 1276 | 17-43 | Donald and Barbara Broadhead | 2004– | 235010875 | ||
| 1277 | 17-44 | Annette Hutton | 2004– | 235010876 | ||
| 1278 | 17-45 | The Duke of Kent | 2005– | Relief fleet | 235013842 | |
| 1279 | 17-46 | Margaret Joan and Fred Nye | 2004– | Relief fleet | 235010878 | |
In 2020 the RNLI started to design a Severn Life Extension Programme (SLEP) with the intention of extending the fleet's lifespan by 25 years. It involves taking an existing boat and fully refitting it from the hull up. The addition of modern electronic systems and shock mitigating seats similar to those found on the Shannon class lifeboats, are among many upgrades. In July 2022 it was announced that the prototype was almost complete and would soon be ready for sea trials.[12]
| ON | Op. No. | Name | In service | Principal station | MMSI | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1201 | 232001890 | |||||
| 1242 | 232003140 | |||||