Readers will have heard about the recent tragedy at Lancashire's Morecambe Bay when 20 cockle pickers died after becoming trapped by rising tides Morecambe's inshore lifeboat and hovercraft, together with Fleetwood's all weather lifeboat, launched on the evening of 5 February to help in the frantic search for over 30 cocklers who were stranded in the cold and dark. Search and rescue helicopters, Coastguard teams and private rescue organisations joined the search for the missing Chinese immigrant workers.

Hovercraft Commander Harry Roberts said: The RNLI volunteer crew worked with the search and rescue helicopter on scene and, after the helicopter found one of those missing, the inshore lifeboat was able to quickly get to the same area and found one person alive. The hovercraft went out to meet the lifeboat and brought that person directly to shore to a waiting ambulance.' 'The rest of the rescue was very difficult as we went on to recover 10 bodies from the water, some of which were young people. They didn't have any safety gear and some of them were naked because they had taken their clothes off to help them swim.

It was very distressing for all involved and our hearts go out to their families.' The search continued the following day and the incident was widely reported in the media. Later reports suggested that another five people were still missing.

It is thought that the cocklers were under the direction of illegal gang masters who were compelling them to work in these dangerous conditions, for little pay, with no regard for their safety.

So far, seven people have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and have been released on police bail, pending further enquiries. The full story will not be known for a while yet.

Why a hovercraft? Morecambe Bay is notoriously dangerous, with fast rising tides and quicksands. During the rescue Morecambe's hovercraft operated ashore, in shallow water and over sandbanks, demonstrating its versatility and suitability in such an environment. The craft was developed in conjunction with manufacturers Griffon and the RNLI's technical department, and has proved that it can operate in certain areas that conventional lifeboats cannot reach.

Morecambe's hovercraft, The Hurley Flyer, went into service at the end of 2002 and was funded by the generous donation of Mrs Kay Hurley of Oxfordshire. A hovercraft also operates at Hunstanton in Norfolk and Southend-on-Sea has recently had the go ahead to have a craft of its own by this summer. At the the time of going to press the RNLI was also starting hovercraft trials at New Brighton, Merseyside.Come visit us Lifeboat stations throughout the UK and Republic of Ireland will be throwing their doors open to the public this summer on dedicated open days. These events will give visitors a chance to see inside a station, chat to the crews, get close to the lifeboats and absorb the atmosphere that surrounds any lifeboat station.

As this issue of the Lifeboat goes to press, the RNLI is relaunching Come Visit Us, its range of regional guides to RNLI stations and museums. Each guide has a comprehensive listing of all your local lifeboat stations, which are graded under the categories explore, discover and observe, to help you get the most from your visit. Each entry includes contact numbers, details of lifeboats, directions, opening times and the facilities offered.

The guides also include details of six special RNLI museums and a list of independent museums that contain RNLI related exhibits. There are six regions to choose from: Scotland; North East and North West; Wales and Isle of Man; East and South East; South West and Ireland.

Armed with a Come Visit Us guide, visitors to lifeboat station open days can also take time to explore the interesting areas around the station.

Details of a station open day near you will be advertised locally but to find out where your nearest lifeboat station is take a look at the map at www.rnli.org.uk or obtain your copy of the guide from: Come Visit Us, RNLI Headquarters, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset BH15 1HZ. Please send an SAE (DL size - 220mm x 110mm) stating which guide you would like. If more than one guide is required, please send a C4 envelope 324m x 229mm). The following postal rates will apply: one guide - 27p, two guides - 72p, three guides - £1.09).According to plan 2004-2008 The RNLI Plan Edition 6 January 200* Every year the RNLI produces a detailed business plan for the forthcoming five years and a summary of this, called The RNLt Plan (pictured). This informative little document sets out what the RNLI intends to achieve over the next five years and how it is going to do so.

If you would like a copy please send an A5 stamped addressed envelope to: Valerie Latham, Corporate Services Department, RNLI, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset BH15 1HZ. An electronic version of the document is also downloadable from www.rnli.org.uk/brief.asp.

LifeboatsCharter for excellence In December 2003 RNLI Chairman Peter Nicholson signed an historic partnering agreement at the DML dockyard in Devonport, where the pre-production Tamar class lifeboat is being fitted out.

The charter promotes open communication between the two organisations, during the build of the pre-production boat and the first four production boats. This should lead to production cost savings by combining purchasing power and pooling expertise.AGM and APA 2004 The Lifeboat is pleased to announce that the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, will be guest of honour at the RNLI's Annual Presentation of Awards on 20 May 2004 at the Barbican Centre, London. The President will address the Annual General Meeting of Governors in the morning and present the Gallantry Medals and awards to voluntary workers in the afternoon.

SEA Check now features in Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) reports. Some recent tragedies involving small open craft have highlighted the poor level of safety awareness and equipment carried.

A recent report recommended that SEA Check should be further advertised and investigators have shown a keen interest in the RNLI's prevention activities as a way of preventing unnecessary loss of life among recreational boat users.

the LifeboatSalcombe remembers Salcombe lifeboat was kept busy in 2003 with 33 services - but one particular trip, which was not a rescue, stood out from the others. The lifeboat crew were greatly honoured when they were asked to take out the ashes of Iraq war casualty Major Jason Ward and scatter them at sea.

Jason (pictured) was one of the war's very first casualties and was Officer Commanding 240 Special Forces, Royal Marines when he was killed in action on the 21 March 2003, Before serving in Iraq he served in Cambodia, Bosnia and twice in Northern Ireland.

Jason spent most of his leisure time sailing in the Salcombe estuary with his brother Elliot and, more recently, took to spending his leave sailing further afield including northern Europe and Scandinavia.

Later in the year, Jason's colleagues at the Royal Marine barracks, Stonehouse raised nearly £1,000 for Salcombe's new lifeboat fund.

Preventing tragedies: lessons learned The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) recently revealed that the 2003 summer heatwave led to a big increase in drownings. This was just one of the many topics discussed at the RoSPA Water Safety Congress at the Hilton Brighton West Pier Hotel on 29-30 March 2004.

The conference, entitled Preventing Tragedies: Lessons Learned, was officially opened by Transport Minister David Jamieson. RNLI Operations Director and Chairman of the National Water Safety Committee Michael Vlasto chaired the second day of the event. Delegates discussed developing water safety campaigns, safety on school trips, standardising water safety information, targeting 'at risk' groups, setting up dedicated water safety sections in local authorities, beach zoning, managing water sports centres and swimming pool safety.

The INREM database, a joint project of the RNLI and RoSPA that records incidents on inland waters, was introduced at the event. This is a multi-agency database that will inform lifesaving organisations of the overall trends of accidents happening on inland waters and the responses to them.

For further information on how the RNLI uses statistics to save lives see our feature on pages 24-25.Offshore goes gold Larry and Phyllis Green became 'golden' Offshore members when they signed up at the Schroders London Boat Show at ExCeL in January.

The joint 50,000th members were congratulated by Eastbourne lifeboat medallists Coxswain Mark Sawyer and Mechanic Daniel Guy - plus Peter Landon, a yachtsman whose life they saved and whose story the Lifeboat covered in summer 2003. Fundraising and Communications Director David Brann was also at the ceremony to offer his thanks and present the couple with a small memento and a special certificate to mark the occasion.

Phyllis and Larry Green, who have been sailors for six years, said: 'We've been meaning to join Offshore for ages - its important to make a commitment to you - as you make a commitment to us.1 David Brann said: 'At the London Boat Show we used both paid and voluntary face-to-face recruiters, who have worked together incredibly hard to sign-up boat show visitors to Offshore membership. People like Phyllis and Larry appreciate why they are there.'Busiest year ever for RNLI crews Latest rescue statistics reveal that 2003 was the RNLI's busiest year on record.

Lifeboats around the British Isles launched a record total of 8,047 times (7% up on 2002), rescuing 7,815 people - an average of 21 people every day. The busiest coastal station was Poole, in Dorset, with 175 launches between its two lifeboats, resulting in the rescue of 190 people. Beach Lifeguards also had their busiest season for far, attending 7,226 incidents and saving 27 lives.

RNLI Operations Director Michael Vlasto, says: 'The total number of lifeboat launches has increased year on year since 1986, making the 2003 figure more than double the1986 total of 3,724. We believe this trend is due to a number of factors, such as the changing patterns of sea use by the public, improved search and rescue techniques and the dramatic growth in the use of mobile telephones among the public - and particularly for 2003, the long, hot summer.' The steady increase in the number of rescues is a cause for concern and, as such, the RNLI is actively pursuing preventative initiatives to reduce the number of potentially life threatening incidents that occur. Michael continues: 'Launching lifeboats is expensive and carries with it risks to our volunteer crews, which is why the RNLI is committed to preventative work, encouraging all sea users to be as safe as they can at sea.' See the article on page 24 to see how the RNLI uses statistics to save lives.

Thanks, Pindar Andrew Pindar, Chairman of the Pindar Group that prints the Lifeboat, is a keen supporter of the RNLI and his company sponsors yachtswoman Emma Richards.

Emma made sailing history in 2003 when she became the first woman, and youngest ever competitor, to complete the world's longest and toughest solo yacht race, Around Alone.

Andrew donated an auction prize of a day's sailing for two with Emma for the London Lifeboat banquet which was held at Greenwich in December 2003. The lucky winner was given the chance to take the helm of Emma's Open 60 racing yacht and witness, first hand, one of the world's top sailors in action.

Round-the-world yachtswoman Emma Richards Photo: Thierry MartinezRNLI on national TV Look out for an eight-week national BBC TV series. Danger on the Beach, featuring the RNLI.

Due to air from Wednesday 17 March, it sensitively demonstrates what can and does go wrong for beachgoers and portrays the work of the Brixham Coastguard, the SAR helicopter at Portland, RNLI lifeboat crews, and RNLI Beach Lifeguards.

An abridged version of the Lifeboat is available on audio tape, exclusively for visually impaired members. The cassette version, produced by Sound Talking, is free of charge although recipients may wish to make a small donation to cover the additional costs involved. Those who sign up to receive the Lifeboat on cassette are also able to opt out of receiving the printed publication to save the RNLI costs.

To receive your copy of the Lifeboat on a C90 tape please write to: The Editor, the Lifeboat, RNLI, West Quay Road, Poole, Dorset BH15 1HZ or email [email protected] Please note: the tapes are recycled to save costs and, therefore, back issues are not available. The cassette mailings are every quarter, following the distribution of the printed version..