RNLI and Raymarine agree five-year lifeboat navigation partnership

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution has announced a five-year partnership with Teledyne Raymarine and Teledyne FLIR Marine to introduce new navigation, vessel-controland thermal imaging systems across parts of its lifeboat fleet. 

The charity said the programme would support its long-term fleet strategy by providing volunteer crews with updated digital systems intended to improve situational awareness and simplify onboard operation. It also plans to trial FLIR Marine thermal cameras on selected vessels. 

According to the RNLI, selected lifeboats will receive Raymarine electronic chart systems based on Axiom chartplotters, Quantum or Cyclone Pro radar systems and YachtSense ship-control systems. 

The RNLI said the equipment was selected following feedback from volunteer crew members about operational requirements, training and technical support. 

Where installed, FLIR Marine thermal imaging equipment is intended to help crews detect vessels and people in the water in darkness or fog. The extent of the thermal-camera rollout has not been specified. 

The Shannon all-weather lifeboat and Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat are scheduled to be the first coastal classes fitted with the new digital systems. The E class fleet operatingon the River Thames is also due to receive the upgrades before a wider rollout across the RNLI fleet.