Bajansailor
Well-Known Member
Just saw this note (press release?) in the YBW newsletter emailed to me. Click on
http://ybw.com/auto/newsdesk/20080728104619mbmnews.html
for the story about how the lifeboats are being hit hard by the rising fuel costs.
What intrigues me though is the statement "A single Trent Class lifeboat uses 360 litres of fuel an hour at its top speed of 24 knots, but only 100 litres an hour at 20 knots".
As far as I know, the Trents were all fitted with 800 hp MAN engines. Is that 100% true re the huge difference in fuel consumption quoted above?
If yes, then it certainly would make sense to throttle back.
I have been on trials on these boats (almost 20 years ago), and it was standard practice then for the cox'ns to go at full chat most of the time.
The top speed is now quoted as being 24 knots - both the Trent and the Severn were initially designed to have a maximum speed of 25 knots - I wonder if the Severn is now also 24 knots? They were fitted with twin 1,200 hp Caterpillar engines.
http://ybw.com/auto/newsdesk/20080728104619mbmnews.html
for the story about how the lifeboats are being hit hard by the rising fuel costs.
What intrigues me though is the statement "A single Trent Class lifeboat uses 360 litres of fuel an hour at its top speed of 24 knots, but only 100 litres an hour at 20 knots".
As far as I know, the Trents were all fitted with 800 hp MAN engines. Is that 100% true re the huge difference in fuel consumption quoted above?
If yes, then it certainly would make sense to throttle back.
I have been on trials on these boats (almost 20 years ago), and it was standard practice then for the cox'ns to go at full chat most of the time.
The top speed is now quoted as being 24 knots - both the Trent and the Severn were initially designed to have a maximum speed of 25 knots - I wonder if the Severn is now also 24 knots? They were fitted with twin 1,200 hp Caterpillar engines.
