The FCB2 (Fast Carriage Boat) and the Supacat tractor and carriage have been on evaluation at Hoylake over the last few weeks and will be returning to its voyage to visit carriage launched RNLI Lifeboat Stations around the UK and Ireland.
Lifeboat Operation’s Manager at Hoylake, John Curry said that both the Supacat engineers and all personnel at the Lifeboat Station have been delighted with the results of the extensive tests carried out over the past few weeks. The rig may now go into even the softest mud patches to be found at Hoylake and travels faster over the sand, which will reduce call-out response times. The Station now looks forward to the placement of the Shannon Class Lifeboat at Hoylake.
Coxswain Dave Whiteley said: “We were all impressed with the design of the Supacat and its ability to launch the Experimental Lifeboat FCB2 in all conditions from the beach. It will, when on station, undoubtedly improve our response times when launching.”
FCB2 is an experimental lifeboat which is visiting stations in line for the proposed Shannon class lifeboat currently being designed and built by the RNLI.
[Ed]: Apologies for poor image quality.
Followers might like to know that, if they go to Youtube and look for RNLI FCB they will find one listed as RNLI TEST LAUNCH FCB2 at Hayle