Services

This Page Was
Last Updated:
19^th January 2004

Every time a lifeboat is called out on service the details are recorded. At present there are 231 lifeboat stations around the coast of the UK and the Republic of Ireland. The crew who man these stations currently number around 4,600. They are in the main, volunteers and on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Each year the service figures are compiled, analysed and published. An average year will see the lifeboats launch over 6,700 times and rescue over 6,700 people. This works out at over 18 call outs a day with the same number being rescued. As you can now see the lifeboat service is kept very busy. The lifeboats of the R.N.L.I have saved the lives of over 136,000 people since its foundation in 1824.

In 2002, the majority of calls were to pleasure craft, which accounted for nearly 50% of all call outs. Services to people cut off by the tide or in difficulties accounted for nearly 30% of all calls, with the merchant and fishing fleets accounting for only 13.5% of all calls. The trend from 2001 to 2002 showed that the number of call outs was increasing, although the numbers needing to be saved were decreasing. The table below shows the figures for 2001 and 2002.

2001 2002

Launches 6,921
on average: 18 a day 7,729
on average: 21 a day

Lives Saved* 781
on average: 2 a day 775
on average: 2 a day

People Landed** 2,064
on average: 6 a day 1,693
on average: 5 a day

People Brought Ashore*** 4,095
on average: 11 a day 4,897
on average: 13 a day

Total People Rescued 6,940
on average: 19 a day 7,365
on average: 20 a day

Lives Saved* = Those who, in the opinion of the RNLI, would have lost their lives if a lifeboat/lifeguard had not attended.
People Landed** = Those who, in the opinion of the RNLI, were at great risk and needed to be landed.
People Brought Ashore*** = Those who, in the opinion of the RNLI, were not at great risk but were brought ashore before a situation deteriorated.

The Flamborough Lifeboats have contributed to these figures over the years, as you will be able to see on the 'Boats' page. More detailed lists can be seen on the service lists for: 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004. At present the Flamborough boats have launched over 740 times, saved over 560 lives and rescued countless others since the stations were formed in 1871. All this work has been carried out by volunteers who rely on generous donations to keep the service running.

If you would like to help or would like more information on the lifeboat service, please contact:
Royal National Lifeboat Institution, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1HZ.
Telephone: 01202 663000
Fax: 01202 663167
Website: www.lifeboats.org.uk
Email: info@rnli.org.uk
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is a registered charity, number 209603.

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