Printer Friendly
Email a Friend
Hovercraft Into View at seawork
01 Mar 2004
Being based in Southampton UK makes it easy for Griffon Hovercraft Limited to exhibit at seawork . In the run up to the exhibition, Griffon has just sold a fourth 470SAR hovercraft to the RNLI , which will be used to rescue people in areas where it is difficult if not impossible for the RNLI's current lifeboats to reach.
There are many such tidal areas around the British Isles where boats frequently go aground or where people become marooned by floods, caught by tides or fall through ice.
The unique Griffon 470SAR, which was developed in conjunction with the RNLI's own lifeboat design team, achieves speeds of over 30 knots powered by twin Volkswagen/ Audi 84hp automotive diesel engines driving twin air propellers, with a 'get you home' capability on one engine.
The RNLI craft are equipped with VHF radio, intercom, GPS, anti-spray skirt, heater, liferaft and searchlights as well as a full arsenal of specialist life saving equipment secured in special stowages.
Since the RNLI's headquarters at Poole is situated in one of the most environmentally sensitive areas of the UK, it is essential that the 470SAR causes no damage to the surfaces over which it operates or to any wildlife in the area. It is therefore an important factor that a Griffon hovercraft makes virtually no wash at high speed nor marks the local terrain.
This latest sale brings the number of Griffon hovercraft in search and rescue or crash rescue roles to over 50. It is hoped that the RNLI will be able to bring its hovercraft fleet up to as many as 15 craft over the next five years.
MJ Information No: 19220
Images for this article - click to enlarge
Unless otherwise stated, all images copyright © Mercator Media 2008. This does not exclude the owner's assertion of copyright over the material.
Related products
For more information on products mentioned within this article visit
