GRP 9.5m-long lifeboat for cruise liners and ferries

Dutch boat builder Mulder & Rijke has launched a 150 seater partially enclosed lifeboat for use onboard cruise liners and ferries. Called the PELB 95/150, it is 9.5m long and has a staggered seating arrangement. The numbered seats are arranged on longitudinal and transverse benches to allow for unobstructed boarding and disembarking. The main part of the hull, rigid fore and aft covers, buoyancy tanks, equipment and inventory lockers, are all made of laminated GRP using fire retardant resins. Power is supplied by a Bukh DV29 RME SOLAS 21kW diesel engine with a closed freshwater cooling system. Speed is up to six knots or two knots when towing a fully loaded 25-person life raft. Propulsion is via a stainless steel propeller shaft and a manganese bronze propeller which is driven by a ZF 3:1 reverse reduction gearbox. An on/off release gear controlled by a handle is mounted at the steering position. Supplied fixed equipment includes a stainless steel towing bollard and a helmsman operated painter release.