HIAB Helps the RNLI Save Lives

It’s always interesting to me to discover the many ways HIAB cranes are used. One such use is the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI). RLNI is known in Great Britain as the “charity that saves lives at sea”. They provide a 24-hour lifeboat search and rescue service around the coasts of the UK and Republic of Ireland, as well as a seasonal lifeguard service on many of the busiest beaches in England and Wales.

Their fleet of lifeboats ranges from inshore inflatable craft to 41-tonne, all-weather Severn class lifeboats. As you can imagine, the RNLI needs to be able to move these craft frequently and with great care. As a charity, they cannot afford to have their lifeboats damaged.

RNLI uses several models of HIAB crane to manage its lifeboat fleet, including the 026, XS 066, XS 099, and XS 111 for the smaller boats. For the larger boats, they use the HIAB 200 C. The XSDrive remote control, an innovation unique to HIAB cranes, enables the RNLI team to handle each load with a high degree of precision. (The attached photos show the cranes in action.)

Keeping costs down is important for any organization, but especially for charitable groups. Because of a partnership between HIAB and a local service provider, RNLI enjoys the security of a maintenance contract with an authorized service centre nearby. This contract keeps lifecycle costs down and helps RNLI avoid costly breakdowns.

From technical innovations to top-notch customer service, HIAB is helping organizations like RNLI become more efficient.

To see the specs on the cranes RLNI uses and other models, visit our HIAB Truck Cranes page.