47-foot Motor Lifeboat
Class overview | |
---|---|
Name | 47′ MLB |
Builders | Textron Marine |
Operators | United States Coast Guard,Maritime Search and Rescue (Mexico) |
Preceded by | 44-foot motor lifeboat |
Cost | $1,214,300[1] |
In service | 1997–present |
Planned | c. 227[2] |
Completed | 227[2] |
Active | 227 |
General characteristics | |
Displacement | 18 t (20 short tons)[3] |
Length | 14.6 m (47 ft 11 in)[3] |
Beam | 4.27 m (14 ft 0 in)[3] |
Draft | 1.37 m (4 ft 6 in)[3] |
Propulsion |
|
Speed | |
Range | 200 nmi (370 km) cruising[3] |
Complement | 34 persons, 4 crew, 30 passengers[3][4] |
Armament | 1 × M240B machine gun (optional)[4] |
The 47-foot MLB is the standard lifeboat of the United States Coast Guard (USCG). The 47′ MLB is the successor to the 44′ MLB.[5]
At Station Chatham where the new 47-foot boat would draw too much to get over the bar, the 42-foot Near Shore Lifeboat was designed to replace the 44' MLB. [6]
The 47′ MLB is designed to weather hurricane force winds and heavy seas, capable of surviving winds up to 60 knots (110 km/h), breaking surf up to 6 m (20 ft) and impacts up to three
The boat's
Employing "fly-by-wire" control systems,[8] the boat can be operated from four different locations: two from the enclosed bridge, and two amidships from an open bridge.[3] Because of the “by wire” system the boat is controlled by joysticks instead of wheels.
Situated less than 1 ft (30 cm) above the water line are recessed retrieval wells,[8] allowing for easier recovery of persons and jetsam, and easier boardings.[3] A watertight survivor's compartment is equipped for comprehensive first aid.[8] It is situated at the combined center of rotation of the ship.[8] if needed a light machine gun can be fitted at the front of the vessel.
See also
- 41-foot Utility Boat, Large
- 44-foot Motor Lifeboat
- Cape-class motor lifeboat (the 47′ MLB in service with the Canadian Coast Guard)
- Response Boat – Medium
- Trent-class lifeboat—RNLI lifeboat of similar size and performance
References
- ^ 47-foot Motor Lifeboat (MLB)
- ^ a b USCG: About Us – Aircraft & Cutters
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n USCG: International Affairs: FMS Archived 2011-12-30 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b COMDTINST M16114.25B 47FT MOTOR LIFEBOAT OPERATOR'S HANDBOOK
- ^ Coast Guard bids adieu to 44-foot boat – Local News Updates – The Boston Globe
- ^ COAST GUARD COMPASS OFFICIAL BLOG OF THE U.S. COAST GUARD
- ^ a b Operational Logistics Support Plan (OLSP) for the 47′ Motor Lifeboat (MLB)
- ^ a b c d Textron Marine MLB datasheet[permanent dead link]
External links
- US Coast Guard datasheet on the 47 MLB
- Textron Marine datasheet on the 47 MLB—contractor for the USCG 47 MLB
- MetalCraft Marine—contractor for the CCG 47 MLB
- 47-Foot Motor Lifeboat - MLB at military.com