DANGER dont go Up the Thames

[sailorman]

The government shound Ban the Thames as Un-Safe get the H.S.E involved:- /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

The RNL's fleet of 330 lifeboats launched a total of 7,656 times, rescuing 7,507 people - an average of 21 people every day - in 2004.

The busiest RNLI lifeboat station overall was Tower Pier on the River Thames, which launched 322 times and rescued 134 people. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

The busiest RNLI lifeboat station on the coast was Poole, in Dorset, with 132 launches, resulting in the rescue of 151 people. Followed by Exmouth lifeboat station, in Devon with 110 launches rescuing 77 people, and Southend-on-Sea lifeboat station in Essex launched 108 times and rescued 132 people.

Fifty two per cent of rescues involved leisure craft (motor boating, sailing, windsurfing, etc); twenty seven per cent of rescues were to people without craft (swimmers, walkers, etc); thirteen per cent were to commercial and fishing vessels; and eight per cent to 'others'.


Yachting Monthly, 24 February 2005

rember when the R.N.L.I. used to just "Render Assistance" /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[Cantata]

It's not the Thames that's dangerous, it's the poor souls who make up most of these numbers by jumping in off bridges that you need to watch out for!

 

[peterb]

[ QUOTE ]
it's the poor souls who make up most of these numbers by jumping in off bridges that you need to watch out for!

[/ QUOTE ]

Generally speaking they tend to jump off the centre of the arch. Keep over to one side a bit, you're less likely to be hit.

 

[oldgit]

Re:Wandsworth .2004.

Last summer had the misfortune to be passing by as the RNLI and police were removing some unfortunate soul from the water,wether jumper or accident glad to see somebody capable and able to recover the body.

 

[kds]

I understand that the greatest danger is from undermanned, 20+ knot, trimarans !!
Ken

 

[sailorman]

your safe from this hazzard above Tower Bridge

 

[emnick]

Saw somebody who was going to jump off hungerford bridge once, he would have been lucky to hit the water for the amount of Police & Firebrigade launches out, I wonder what constituts a 'rescue'.I feel that this is money wasted by RNLI as this stretch of water is well covered by above! <font color="blue"> </font>

 

[ribrunt]

[q]this stretch of water is well covered by above[/q]

Without appearing too cruel...ask any of the families of the Marchioness about that comment - and that is the very reason the RNLI is on the river. Police & Fire Service are not always to hand - they have other responsibilities but of course will work with RNLI (as do PLA) when available.

 

[John_Lana]

Slightly O/T
A couple of years ago we were going under the bridge near Skradin in Croatia, and came very close to having a bungie-jumper land on the foredeck!! Obviously did not look before he leapt!

John

 

[emnick]

Was on duty that night!!, RNLI would not have made any difference to outcome(I am sorry to say), I stand by my comments that this part of the river is over protected by Police & Fire service, which is why I say RNLI should look to relocate these rescue boats.

 

[EdEssery]

There's something distinctly odd about the RNLI stations on the Thames - I believe there are three above Tower Bridge. They all came on-line in a very short period (12-18 months) after there being none for 175 years+. You'd think they'd start with one first and see how it went.

Furthermore they have a different class of boat and propulsion that is not used anywhere else in the fleet and which I don't recall getting any coverage in the RNLI magazine during development and testing, unlike the Atlantic 21, Trent, Severn and new FSB.

So what's the story? Something doesn't feel right about it. Some deal done somewhere? What do others think/know?

Ed

 

[ribrunt]

RNLI placed four boats on the Thames in response to a request by the MCA - who at the same time set up the London Coastguard. This request was made as a direct result of the inquiry into the Marchioness disaster. All 4 stations went live on 1 January 2002 - three "E" Class Tiger ribs, F/T and 1 D-class @ Teddington same ops as coastal stations. The request included 15mins response times to any incident within the "patch". I think the issue (ex Marchioness inquiry) was the PLA, Police & F/S were not dedicated to marine SAR & therefore not 100% guaranteed.

Thames ops are fundamentally different to coastal ops; e.g. speed - 15mins above - wash constraints, debris, etc. It was decided, given the quick ramp-up, to purchase commercial vessels. These have since been re-fitted by ILC Cowes and are now much more "lifeboat-like". Much of the kit & equipment is common issue with the coast.

The launch of these services was well covered in the Lifeboat at the time, as were the boats. Agreed - RNLI did not have the time usually available for prototyping/devt & that's why you did not see that covered.

Re. jet propulsion - this was under active consideration for FCB2 - not sure what current thinking is.

Emnick - you on the Thames boats? PM me offline.

Cheers

RR

 

[Trevethan]

Travelling downstream last year just past Chelsea bridge and heard reports of someone in the water over the radio. We looked but could see anyone, and were joined by helicopter, three police launches, PLA, plus other boats including some kind of Baywatch looking thing that seemed to zoom up and down close to the embankment for the benefit of the pretty girls watching.

We carried on downstream with so many many boats tearing around. Think they found the person pinned against a piling by the current and rescued him.