Shannon Launch and Recovery System (SLARS) is a custom designed tractor and trailer specifically designed for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) to launch and recover lifeboats.
The SLARS is produced by two British companies, Supacat, based in Honiton, Devon, and Clayton Engineering Limited, based in Knighton, Powys. In 2015, Supacat rebranded as SC Innovation.
Operation The Shannon launch and recovery system (SLARS) was developed to launch and recover the 18-tonne RNLI lifeboat.
The lifeboat is launched, and recovered, bow-first. The carriage, mounted on tracked wheels, is used to transport a lifeboat from boathouse to sea. The carriage can then be tilted, effectively acting as a slipway to launch the boat when released.
On return, the boat will be driven ashore. A synthetic winch line, designed not to recoil should it break, is attached to the bow of the lifeboat, and the carriage is again tilted to meet the bow of the boat. The lifeboat is then hauled up the carriage. When the carriage is returned to the horizontal, and the lifeboat securely attached, the top section of the carriage rotates 180° as a turntable, and the lifeboat is ready to relaunch.
Both the tractor and carriage are tracked vehicles. In some locations, the carriage is also a powered unit, to assist traction and movement. The driver has two sets of controls, and can rotate the seat 180°. The high cab gives excellent visibility, with CCTV to assist. The cab is fully waterproof, and the vehicle can be operated in of calm water.
RNLI SLARS Fleet Op.No. Reg.No. Name Station Manufacturer Comments SC-T01 WF13 ZNJ 2013– Relief fleet Supacat SC-T02 WG13 AKZ 2013– Relief fleet Supacat SC-T03 HK63 BVW 2014– Supacat SC-T04 HF14 HFK 2014– SupacatSC-T05HF14 HLJ 2014–2019 Relief fleetSupacat 2019–2021 2021– Relief fleet SC-T06 HF14 HLK Roland Hough 2014– SupacatSC-T07HF64 CVGJune and Gordon Hadfield 2014–2021 Clayton 2021– Relief fleetSC-T08HF15 FRXKenneth George Fulford 2015–2025 Supacat 2025– Relief fleetSC-T09HF65 HUA 2015–2017 Relief fleetSupacat 2017–2019 2019– Relief fleet SC-T10 HF65 HPJ The Cairns 2016– Clayton SC-T11 HJ16 JVU Fred Henley 2016– Supacat SC-T12 HJ16 JRU Miss Eileen Beryl Phillips 2017– ClaytonSC-T13HF67 DSO 2017–2018 2019–2021 Relief fleet 2021– SC-T14 HF67 CAV Roy Barker 2017– Clayton SC-T15 LK18 FVU 2019– SC Innovation SC-T16 HF18 DYS Richard and Mark Colton 2018– Clayton SC-T17 HD66 VBJ 2019– SC Innovation SC-T18 HF68 DDL 2019–2025 Clayton SC-T19 HF69 CXV David Cooper 2020– SC Innovation SC-T20 HF19 EHH Violet Rose Saw 2019– ClaytonSC-T21HF20 EBD 2019–2023 Relief fleetSC Innovation 2023– SC-T22 1335 MAN 2021– ClaytonSC-T23HF70 EBZ 2021–2026 SC Innovation 2026– Relief fleet SC-T24 HF70 EBK 2021– Clayton SC-T25 2022– Relief fleet SC Innovation SC-T26 PMN 747T 2022– Clayton SC-T27 HF22 BWJ Patricia Jean Bettany 2022– ClaytonSC-T28HF72 FXD 2023–2025 Relief fleetClayton 2025– SC-T29 HF73 BXN 2024– Clayton HF24 BWJ 2024– Clayton HF25 BRZ 2025– Clayton
See also Shannon-class lifeboat Talus MB-H amphibious tractor Talus MB-764 amphibious tractor RNLI New Holland TC45 launch tractor Talus Atlantic 85 DO-DO launch carriage
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