CHATERINA-D CLASS LIFEBOAT

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0) CHATERINA D-class
CHATERINA D-class. Aluminum successor of the Astlantic 75-class, mainly deployable on the Wadden Sea and IJsselmeer. This class has been in use by the KNRM since 2023.
Photographer Roel Ovinge (KNRM Image Archive).

https://www.postzegelblog.nl/2024/05/19 ... el-en-wee/

The Royal Netherlands Sea Rescue Institution tested the self-righting capacity of the new CHATERINA D lifeboat class for the Vlieland lifeboat station on Friday 29 September 2023. The test took place in Harderwijk at the Palfinger Marine shipyard, which built the 7.5-metre-long lifeboat. 
The KNRM lifeboats are designed and built to withstand all conceivable weather conditions. The CHATERINA D class also has the self-righting ability to return to its normal position after capsizing. For this purpose, the boat is equipped with an inflatable tilting bag on the railing at the back of the boat. If the ship capsizes, the crew can activate the mechanism by pulling a cord. This inflates the airbag. The air bag, which is then under water, wants to rise and thus turns the boat over. The stability test is carried out on every new boat. This gives the crew the opportunity to see the mechanism in operation.  

CHATERINA D-CLASS 
On behalf of the KNRM, 12 new lifeboats of a 7.5 meter class will be built in the coming years. The CHATERINA D is the first boat of a new class, which will be put into service in 2023. The lifeboat replaces the Atlantic 75 class, which is mainly used by the KNRM on the Wadden Sea and the IJsselmeer. The name of the boat was determined by the donors of the lifeboat. 
The first CHATERINA D lifeboat can be built thanks to a donation to the KNRM by Chaterina Hollenga and Dick Veen. At the KNRM it is customary that the name of the lifeboat is linked to the donation. Living donors are always closely involved in the construction of their lifeboat. That is why the donors also laid the keel. For the next 11 lifeboats of this class, ten donors have already promised to finance the construction. They also give the lifeboat a name according to their wishes. 
https://youtu.be/Wc4rQSfhqMg 

FLEET RENEWAL AND SUSTAINABILITY 
For this CHATERINA D-class of 7.5 meters, an aluminum hull is used for the first time. The design for this was made by Palfinger Marine from Harderwijk. The construction also includes the seats for the crew and the console in which all navigation and communication equipment is incorporated. An inflatable rubber edge is placed on the hull, making the boat a real 'rigid inflatable boat', like almost all KNRM lifeboats. Propulsion is provided by two outboard engines of 115 hp each. Shipbuilder 'Bouw en Techniek' in Dronrijp built the hull of the lifeboat. The finishing is done at Palfinger Marine in Harderwijk.  
This tilting test was preceded by almost three years of preparation. The choice was made to build in aluminium, which is more recyclable than the polyester of the old generation of boats. The engines are four-stroke engines that are quieter, much more economical and produce less CO2 emissions. The ergonomics have also been adapted to the body shape of the current crew members, who are a lot taller than 40 years ago.  
The major fleet renewal plan of which this lifeboat is a part has taken years of deliberation and research. In addition to the 12 CHATERINA D-class lifeboats, another 60 lifeboats are to be built over the next 15 years to replace the current fleet. 

Photo of the lifeboat ios made by Roel Ovinge
https://www.knrm.nl/nieuws/vlootvernieu ... CHATERINAd
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