The RNLI celebrates the lifesaving anniversary of its Inshore Lifeboats.Introduced in 1963, the inshore lifeboat continues to be an invaluable asset in the Royal National Lifeboat Institution’s (RNLI) fleet as new figures show the charity’s Inshore lifeboats have saved 30,778* lives across 60 years.
RNLI/Tom Collins
2023. Hartlepool RNLI inshore lifeboat pictured at sea on a stormy day.
The inshore lifeboat has enabled the charity’s volunteer crews to carry out their lifesaving work closer to shore, in areas inaccessible to other lifeboats in the fleet. Designed to be quick and manoeuvrable, inshore lifeboats can operate in shallower water, near cliffs and rocks meaning crews can get as close as possible to those in trouble.
Hartlepool RNLI has had their class 85 lifeboat 'Solihull' saving lives at sea since 2015 when it arrived at the station.
Chris Hornsey, Volunteer Lifeboat Operations Manager at Hartlepool Lifeboat Station, said:
‘Over the years, as far back as the 1960's, Hartlepool's inshore lifeboats have enabled our volunteer crew to reach areas close to shore, cliffs and rocks to rescue people in trouble. These fast and highly manoeuvrable lifesaving craft answered the need for a quicker and more agile response to rescues in areas of water that were more challenging to the larger and slower all-weather lifeboats.
Inshore lifeboat ‘Solihull' is part of our community and suits the demands of the rescues we attend and with its unique features and capabilities has made a huge difference to the efficiency and effectiveness of our 24/7 search and rescue service.
For further information contact Hartlepool RNLI Press Officer Tom Collins [email protected]
RNLI/Tom Collins
Caption: 2004. Emergencyservices assist the Hartlepool RNLI volunteers to move an injured person onto the inshore lifeboat 'BBC Radio Cleveland'.
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.