The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) in the UK has signed a five-year agreement with Teledyne Raymarine and Teledyne FLIR Marine to equip its lifeboat fleet with new navigation, ship control and thermal imaging systems.
The deployment forms part of the RNLI’s long-term fleet strategy and will see lifeboats fitted with Raymarine Axiom electronic chart systems, Quantum or Cyclone Pro radar, and YachtSense digital ship-control systems.
FLIR thermal cameras will also be introduced on a trial basis to improve the detection of vessels and people in the water during darkness or poor visibility.
The Raymarine equipment was selected following feedback from RNLI volunteer crews on the requirements for the next generation of onboard systems, with Teledyne also providing training and technical support.
The Shannon all-weather lifeboat, Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat and E Class lifeboat operating on the River Thames will be the first vessels to receive the new equipment before it is deployed across the wider RNLI fleet.
“We are honoured to support the RNLI in their vital mission,” said Gregoire Outters, President, Teledyne Marine Group.
“Our technology is designed to perform in the most demanding marine environments, and we are proud that it will play a role in helping RNLI crews save lives at sea.”
