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RNLI Announces 2004 Lifeboat Rescue Statistics

Emergency search and rescue statistics published on 24 Feb 2005 by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) show that despite the wet summer, 2004 saw more than 7,000 people rescued at sea by its volunteer lifeboat crews.

The charity’s fleet of 330 lifeboats around the British Isles launched a total of 7,656 times, rescuing 7,507 people – an average of 21 people every day.

The busiest RNLI lifeboat station overall was Tower Pier on the River Thames, which launched 322 times and rescued 134 people.

The busiest RNLI lifeboat station on the coast was Poole, in Dorset, with 132 launches, resulting in the rescue of 151 people. Followed by Exmouth lifeboat station, in Devon with 110 launches rescuing 77 people, and Southend-on-Sea lifeboat station in Essex launched 108 times and rescued 132 people.

Fifty two per cent of rescues involved leisure craft (motor boating, sailing, windsurfing, etc); twenty seven per cent of rescues were to people without craft (swimmers, walkers, etc); thirteen per cent were to commercial and fishing vessels; and eight per cent to ‘others’.

Michael Vlasto, RNLI Operations Director says:

‘Although launches to commercial and fishing vessels remain at a steady level, the ever increasing range of coastal recreational pursuits has seen our crews respond to more and more incidents relating to people engaged in leisure pursuits. The River Thames aside, it’s no coincidence that the areas of the coast where we are busiest are those that draw the crowds, even during 2004 – one of the wettest summers on record.

‘Monitoring our activity and analysing the sorts of incidents we respond to, helps us to plan the allocation of our resources to meet future needs. This research also guides our Sea Safety education initiatives, where we target beach goers, the sailing and fishing communities, and those involved in ‘extreme’ water sports. We focus on making sea users aware of the risks and dangers so that they don’t end up becoming one of our statistics.

‘As 2005 is the Year of the Volunteer, our particular thanks go to all our crews across the UK and Republic of Ireland for their continued commitment, selflessness and dedication. Our gratitude also goes to the thousands of station and fundraising volunteers – all working tirelessly to ensure the RNLI can continue to save lives at sea.

‘And we are grateful to the crews’ families, who get used to them dropping things at a moment’s notice to run to the aid of those in distress, and to all the businesses up and down the country who allow their employees – our volunteers – to do the same.

‘The disastrous tsunami in the Indian Ocean has focused attention on how generous the public can be, and we too depend on their support. Understandably we, like many other home charities, have experienced a significant fall in income so far this year but we are sure the public will continue to recognise the bravery of our volunteer crews.’

Key Points

• The RNLI operates 233 lifeboat stations around the coasts of the UK and Republic of Ireland, with 4,700 crew of which over 4,500 are volunteers. The RNLI fleet consists of all weather and inshore lifeboats and, at selected stations, hovercraft. The RNLI operates four lifeboat stations along the tidal reaches of the Thames (Tower Pier, Chiswick, Gravesend and Teddington). The charity also operates lifeboat stations covering major inland waters at Lough Derg, Republic of Ireland; Enniskillen (Lough Erne) Northern Ireland; and South Broads, Norfolk.
   
• The RNLI introduced hovercraft to its fleet in December 2002, to enhance inshore search and rescue operations. The craft operate in areas of shallow water and mud, which conventional lifeboats cannot navigate. RNLI hovercraft are Griffon 470SAR type, developed in conjunction with the RNLI’s technical department specifically for search and rescue purposes. The hovercraft is 7.75m in length, carries a crew of three and has a top speed of 30 knots with a range of 3 hours at maximum speed. Hovercraft statistics 2004: the RNLI hovercraft at Hunstanton (east of England) launched 9 times; the RNLI hovercraft at Morecambe (north west of England) launched 21 times; and the RNLI hovercraft at Southend-on-Sea (east of England) launched 15 times.
   
• The RNLI’s annual running costs are £110 million – £300,000 per day – and, as a registered charity, the organisation continues to rely on voluntary contributions and legacies for its income.
   
• The RNLI provides a 24/7 search and rescue service every day of the year (to 100 nautical miles out from the coast of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland). HM Coastguard and the Irish Coast Guard initiate and co-ordinate civil maritime search and rescue (SAR) in the UK and Irish SAR sea regions. During maritime emergencies on cliffs, beaches, shoreline or at sea each of these authorities calls on RNLI lifeboats, which are declared search and rescue assets. The RNLI responds within agreed criteria.
   
• The RNLI provides the best possible lifeboats, equipment and training to ensure that the volunteer lifeboat crews can do their job in the safest and surest way.
   
• Information and advice on all aspects of sea safety can be obtained by calling the RNLI on 0800 328 0600 in the UK and 1800 789589 in the Republic of Ireland.
  Alternatively, email seasafety@rnli.org.uk.
   
• A statistical graph is available outlining rescues by type, 1996 to 2004.
   

For press information please telephone the RNLI press office on +44 (0)1202 662218 / 663184 / 663510 / 663127 / 663181

Regional contacts (by geographical station location)

• Scotland, Rachel Martin 07786 668903
• Wales, Danielle Rush 07786 668829
• Republic of Ireland, Claire Brennan 00 353 1 284 5050
• Northern Ireland, Liz Burke (Citigate) 028 9042 8899
• North of England (West Kirby to Silloth and Skegness to Berwick-upon-Tweed, Alison Levett 07786 668912
• South of England (Mudeford to Western-super-Mare), Tamsin Thomas 07786 668847
• East of England (Lymington to Wells) please call RNLI press office on the numbers above
   

For further information about the RNLI please use the link below to access the RNLI website:
www.rnli.org.uk