For Immediate Release

April 27, 2005

RNLI takes new Grove rough-terrain crane for expansion of Cowes facilities

Grove RT530E lifting boats in the city of East Cowes, United Kingdom

As part of its £2 million (US$3million) investment program at the Inshore Lifeboat Centre at East Cowes on the Isle of Wight, UK, the RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) has purchased a new 30 t (33 USt) capacity Grove RT530E rough-terrain crane for boat handling and general lifting duties around the yard.

The East Cowes center provides the central workshops for the manufacture, maintenance, repair, and overhaul of the entire fleet of some 320 Inshore Lifeboats (ILBs) for the whole of the UK and the Republic of Ireland. The facility looks after several different classes of outboard motor-powered inflatable rigid lifeboats. The largest of these is the newly developed ‘Atlantic 85’, the third generation of this class, which weighs 2 t (2.2 USt).

“As well as building the new workshops, we also needed to upgrade our lifting equipment, which was previously a very old industrial mobile crane,” says Chris Powell, RNLI’s Engineering Production Manager at East Cowes. “We chose the Grove because it has ample reach and lift capacities and because it is compact and maneuverable - even in our tight dockside location. The fine lifting controls also mean that lifeboats can be handled with care and precision.” 

With a 29 m (95 ft) full-power main boom, the RT530E has a maximum reach of 26 m (85.3 ft), and a lift capacity of 0.9 t (1.0 USt). This is useful for picking up boats at extended radii. In addition, the high cab position gives a commanding view of the entire working area, and a modern electronic graphic display in the cab, with built-in load indicator, keeps the driver informed of all crane operating functions.

About The Manitowoc Company
The Manitowoc Company, Inc. is one of the world's largest providers of lifting equipment for the global construction industry, including lattice-boom cranes,tower cranes, mobile telescopic cranes, and boom trucks. As a leading manufacturer of ice-cube machines, ice/beverage dispensers, and commercial refrigeration equipment, the company offers the broadest line of cold-focused equipment for the foodservice industry. In addition, the company is a leading provider of shipbuilding, ship repair, and conversion services for government, military, and commercial customers throughout the U.S. maritime industry.

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