The Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s (RNLI) Engineering and Supply Department has won the 2011 RINA-LR Maritime Safety Award for their innovative work in ensuring and improving the safety of its lifeboats.

The award, sponsored by the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA) and Lloyd’s Register, recognises that through innovation, the department provides for the safety of their volunteer crews, and those rescued each year by the institution.

Trevor Blakeley, RINA’s Chief Executive, said: “The institution is very pleased to join with Lloyd’s Register in presenting this award which recognises the achievement of engineers in improving safety at sea and the protection of the maritime environment. The award places the emphasis on technological contribution, and provides an opportunity for any member of the global maritime industry to nominate a recipient for the award. There can be, perhaps, no greater recognition than that by one’s peers. Those members of the maritime community who are aware of, or have even experienced it first hand, will applaud this recognition of the work of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.”

The RINA-LR Maritime Safety Award was introduced in 2011, and is presented by LR and RINA to an individual, company or organisation which has made a significant technological contribution to improving maritime safety or the protection of the maritime environment.