Inshore rescue boats of the R.N.L.I, saved 733 lives last year. This is a record number and exceeds the 696 lives saved by IRBs over the whole of 1970. Since the R.N.L.I, first introduced its IRB fleet in 1963 the number of lives saved by these craft has increased every year and now totals 3,566. The R.N.L.I, maintains 108 IRB stations around the coasts of Great Britain and Ireland, 33 of which are operational all the year round..