Facts and Figures Provisional statistics as at 21 August 1992 show that so far during 1992: The RNLI's lifeboats have been launched 2,362 times (an average of more than 10 launches a day) 583 lives have been saved (an average of more than two each day) Four per cent of all services carried out by lifeboats were in winds of Force 8 and above Nearly 55 per cent of all services were to pleasure craft (sail, power and manual pleasure craft) There are 269 lifeboats on station, with a further 105 in the relief fleet.

To 21 August 1992, 122,025 lives have been saved since the RNLI was founded in 1824.

Costs The cost of running the RNLI in 1991 was £44m.

The approximate current cost of building a lifeboat is: 16ft D class inflatable £10,000 21 ft Atlantic rigid inflatable - £56,000 12m Mersey £650,000 Fast Afloat Boat 4 - £900,000* Fast Afloat Boat 3 - £1,200,000* 'Estimates based on prototypes, production costs may differ.