Power pleasure crafts most common lifeboat call-out

Search and rescue statistics issued today show that powered pleasure craft represented more than a quarter of all call-outs for Irish lifeboats in 2006.

RNLI vessels were launched 907 times and rescued 990 people last year, an average of 19 people a week.

There were 237 launches in response to powered pleasure craft, followed by 173 responses to fishing vessels.

Of the 43 RNLI lifeboat stations in Ireland, Bangor in the North was the busiest overall with 53 launches and 70 people rescued.

Dun Laoghaire was the busiest in the Republic, launching 47 times and rescuing 43 people.

The two inland stations for the RNLI at Lough Derg in Tipperary and Enniskillen also had a busy year, with 57 launches and 102 people rescued.

“It was another busy year for our volunteer lifeboat crews,” said Colin Williams, RNLI divisional inspector for Ireland.

“With the continued improvements in technology and a strong emphasis on training of our volunteers, lifeboats are reaching casualties faster.”