The Inshore lifeboat and the volunteer crew of Crosshaven RNLI were once again the busiest In Ireland.
2011 statistics released by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution show that the Crosshaven Lifeboat launched on service 46 times in 2011, and assisted 43 people ashore. The statistics also give some interesting facts. Of the 46 service launches, 16 were carried out in darkness and 2 were carried out in wind speeds of over Force 7. The Volunteer crews spent 169 hours at sea on service and a further 472 hours at sea training.
Nationally, The statistics show that launches to vessels suffering machinery failure still account for the largest number of callouts (187) followed by vessels reported to be in trouble (78), grounded (74) and capsizing (73).
Commenting on the 2011 statistics RNLI Deputy Divisional Inspector Gareth Morrison said: 'Our lifeboat volunteers continue to show selfless dedication and commitment to saving lives. Some stations are extremely busy while others have less callouts but spend long hours at sea in awful conditions. There were some outstanding rescues last year including that to Rambler 100, in which Baltimore RNLI recovered 17 crewmembers off the upturned hull of the racing boat during the Fastnet race. Sadly there were also long searches for missing loved ones.
'The work of the volunteer lifeboat crews could not be made possible without the generosity of the public who in difficult times continue to support Irish lifeboat crews. While these figures give an interesting insight into search and rescue by the RNLI on Irish waters they are by no means the full story. As well as working to save lives at sea the RNLI provides other programmes and services for the public including sea safety advice and clinics, education roadshows and visits to lifeboat stations.'
The 2011 figures are being released in the wake of the RNLI Lifejackets for Lifesavers campaign which will see every lifeboat station in Ireland take delivery of new specially designed lifejackets in September. The lifejackets have been commissioned by the RNLI for search and rescue work
and have been given the seal of approval from lifeboat volunteers. The cost of providing the lifejackets for all 43 lifeboat stations in Ireland is estimated at €160,000.
