A LEADING Dorset engineering company has won a contract to supply capstans for the Poole-based RNLI’s new Shannon class all-weather lifeboat.

Seaway Powell Marine Ltd, which specialises in the design and manufacture of marine hydraulic systems from its Shaftesbury base, has a 15 month contract to supply the first 10 of the new class of vessel with its powered winch.

The £1.5million lifeboat with its advanced water jet propulsion system will be part of the charity’s fleet saving lives around the UK and Ireland coast, with plans for a further 50 of the boats, which can be launched and recovered from beaches, built over the next 10 years.

“We have a long standing relationship with Seaway Powell,” said RNLI commercial manager Gary Coleman.

“Our decision for them to provide capstans for our latest class of all-weather lifeboat, the Shannon, was made because the product is built to withstand the tough conditions that our lifeboats operate in and they provide a good standard of customer service.”

Charlie Wilson, general manager at Seaway Powell Marine Ltd said: “It is a great honour to have been awarded the contract to supply 10 of the new Shannon class RNLI lifeboats.

“This contract continues the long and close association between Seaway Powell and the RNLI and we are delighted to have been given the chance to provide these most versatile and robust lifeboats with an essential piece of equipment.”

The company’s C3000E capstan can accept rope up to 30mm in diameter.

It can be driven by a 12 or 24 volt DC or hydraulic motor, providing a pull load of 1400kg at a speed of approximately 34 metres per minute.

In its original form the capstan has been fitted to providers of critical and lifesaving services as well as many small commercial craft, short sea ferries and ocean going yachts.