Royal National Lifeboat Institution

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is a charity dedicated to saving lives at sea around the coasts of Britain and Ireland. It is largely a volunteer organisation founded in 1824 as the National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck, adopting the present name in 1854. The organisation is funded entirely by membership fees, voluntary donations and legacies from members of the public. Its new headquarters in Poole, Dorset, were opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 2004.

Related Topics:
Britain - Ireland - 1824 - 1854 - Poole - Dorset - Queen Elizabeth II - 2004

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Since the RNLI was founded, its lifeboats have saved over 136,275 lives.

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The RNLI operates 5 classes of inshore lifeboats, both inflatable boats and RIBs, of 20-40 knots (37-74 km/h), and 6 classes of all-weather motor life boats with maximum speeds of 16-25 knots (30-46 km/h). It maintains an active fleet of 332 lifeboats based at 233 lifeboat stations. It also has an active fleet of 4 hovercraft introduced in 2002 allowing rescue in mud flats and river estuaries inacessable to conventional boats. The crews of the lifeboats are almost entirely volunteers, the 4600 sea-going crew members, including over 300 women are alerted by pagers backed up by maroons and attend the lifeboat station when alerted.

Related Topics:
Inflatable boat - RIB - Knot - Motor life boat - Lifeboat - Hovercraft - Volunteers

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The RNLI also operates 59 Beach Lifeguard Units in the South West of England employing over 300 lifeguards.

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In the United Kingdom, ships in distress or the public reporting an accident must call HM Coastguard on MF radio, VHF radio or dialling 999 on a telephone. In Ireland they must call the Irish Coastguard. The Coastguard co-ordinates rescue at sea and may call on the RNLI or their own land-based rescue personnel or rescue helicopters to take part. Air-Sea rescue helicopters are provided by the Royal Air Force, the Royal Navy and the Irish Air Corps.

Related Topics:
United Kingdom - HM Coastguard - MF radio - VHF radio - Irish Coastguard - Helicopter - Royal Air Force - Royal Navy - Irish Air Corps

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