Facts and Figures Provisional statistics as at 2 November show that so far during 1990: The RNLI's lifeboats were launched 3,594 times (an average of more than 9 launches a day) More than 1,190 lives were saved (an average of nearly 3 people rescued each day) Nearly 6 per cent of all services carried out by lifeboats were in winds of Force 8 and above Almost 57 per cent of all services were to pleasure craft There are 265 lifeboats on station, with a further 121 in the relief fleet 120,633 lives have been saved since the RNLI was was founded in 1824.

Costs The cost of running the RNLI in 1989 was £36m.

The approximate current cost of building a lifeboat is: 16ft D class inflatable - £9,500 21ft Atlantic rigid inflatable - £45,000 12m Mersey £455,000.