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National 083/01
11 April 2001
SUMMER SEASON BEGINS FOR RNLI
| Easter marks the start of
the busiest time of year for the 4,500 volunteer lifeboat crewmembers
throughout the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. Figures just
released show that in the six months between April and September 2000,
lifeboats carried out 4,527 launches, 72% of the services for the year,
and rescued 4, 962 people, 580 of whom would have been at risk of losing
their lives had a lifeboat not reached them. During the summer there
were on average 29 lifeboat launches and 32 people rescued every day. |
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'We are
particularly concerned to note that launches to fishing vessels
have increased". |
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Speaking of the
figures Ian Benham, RNLI SEA Check Manager says, "We are delighted
that many avoidable accidents have been prevented, resulting in a drop in
RNLI call outs. We have a growing team of safety advisers who have
provided face-to-face advice and practical safety seminars to boat owners
over the last year.
'Our message is: - call the RNLI for sea safety advice before going to
sea, so that all sea users can help ensure they have done as much as
possible to prevent unnecessary lifeboat call outs.
'We are particularly concerned to note that launches to fishing vessels
have increased, with more lives lost and, as a lifesaving organisation, we
are urgently considering ways in which we can further help improve the
safety of fishermen.
'While the reduction in 'lives saved' can be attributed to factors such as
the increased speed of our lifeboats, the statistics still show an average
of 17 launches and 17 people rescued each and every day of the year. This
is a launch by a volunteer crew every 70 minutes, which is far too often.
While we provide a first-class lifeboat service, we intend to continue to
prevent avoidable accidents by providing a range of free safety
publications and services.'
(1999 figures in brackets)
There was a small decline in the number of launches to pleasure craft.
Lifeboats launched 3,244 (3,351) times, which is 52% (51.4%) of all
services, with 479 (693) lives saved, 55.7% (67.4%) of all lives saved by
lifeboats.
* Merchant vessels and tankers were launched to 149 (185) times, 55%
(52.9%) of which were carried out in darkness and 12.8% (9.2%) in winds
over Force 7.
* 848 (822) launches to fishing vessels, with the lives of 184 (134)
fishermen saved.
* Lifeboats were called out 1,455 (1,592) times to people in distress, not
aboard any craft or vessel and 190 (174) lives were saved. These figures
include skin-divers, bathers and water-skiers, people and vehicles cut off
by the tide and casualties fallen from cliffs and man-made structures.
* Of 253 (268) launches in answer to unidentified distress signals, 252
(261) turned out to be false alarms or hoax calls. The Marine and
Coastguard Agency co-ordinated 5,588 (5,857) |
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