Repairs and overhauls

Carrying out rescues at sea in all conditions obviously takes its toll on the RNLI's inshore lifeboats.

As well as regular service overhauls, each inflatable lifeboat has an annual or biannual refit, depending on the class of inflatable, to keep it in top condition, while Atlantic lifeboats receive regular refits every four years.

Any damaged lifeboats need to repaired straight away. If possible, this will be carried out at the station by an appropriate technician sent from the Inshore Lifeboat Centre. 

If this is not possible, to ensure no lifeboat station is without a boat for more than 24 hours, the supporting relief fleet means an immediate replacement can be arranged. 

The ILC also supplies and refurbishes X, Y and XP smaller inflatables carried as back-up craft on all-weather lifeboats as well as boarding boats to take crews from the shore to lifeboats moored on buoys.

The ILC does not operate alone, however. It is only one piece of a jigsaw. Other departments are critical to how the RNLI operates such as the Operations, Engineering, Training, Fundraising, IS and Purchasing departments which all operate as a vital team.