Penlee RNLI Conducts Towing Exercise with Scillonian 3

Can This Lifeboat Really Tow a 1,350-Tonne Ship?

Penlee RNLI’s Severn Class lifeboat Ivan Ellen was launched at 11am on Sunday 29th March 2026 to carry out a towing exercise with the Scillonian 3.

The exercise saw the lifeboat working alongside the 68-metre passenger ferry, which weighs 1,350 metric tonnes, providing a real-world test of the RNLI vessel’s towing capability.

Testing towing power at sea

Under the command of Coxswain Patch Harvey, with an experienced crew of RNLI volunteers on board, the tow was successfully connected between the two vessels.

Despite the size of the Scillonian 3, the lifeboat’s twin 1250hp Caterpillar engines required only 200rpm above minimum revs to tow the vessel at a speed of 5 knots. The RNLI said this was achieved with minimal stress placed on the towing gear.

Capability close to the Cornish coast

The exercise demonstrated that if large vessels require assistance near the shoreline, Penlee’s Severn Class lifeboat has the capability to tow them to safe waters.

This is particularly significant given that the nearest capable tugboats are based in Falmouth, meaning a response from Penlee could be vital in certain situations.