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A rescue craft is a
boat A boat is a watercraft of a large range of types and sizes, but generally smaller than a ship, which is distinguished by its larger size, shape, cargo or passenger capacity, or its ability to carry boats. Small boats are typically found on i ...
,
ship A ship is a large watercraft that travels the world's oceans and other sufficiently deep waterways, carrying cargo or passengers, or in support of specialized missions, such as defense, research, and fishing. Ships are generally distinguished ...
or
aircraft An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to flight, fly by gaining support from the Atmosphere of Earth, air. It counters the force of gravity by using either Buoyancy, static lift or by using the Lift (force), dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in ...
used in rescuing. The most common are
Lifeboat (rescue) A rescue lifeboat is a boat rescue craft which is used to attend a vessel in distress, or its survivors, to rescue crew and passengers. It can be hand pulled, sail powered or powered by an engine. Lifeboats may be rigid, inflatable or rigid-in ...
for inshore and closer to shore rescues. For operations further out from shore
helicopters A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by horizontally spinning rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forward, backward and laterally. These attribu ...
& ships are mainly used. Most Government agencies rely on larger ships for rescues further from shore such as
Royal Navy The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against Fr ...
ships in the United Kingdom and Coast Guard Cutters used in the USA (Although the UK Coastguard does use larger vessels to tow ships in distress). Similarly the UK uses both the Royal Air Force SAR and
UK Coastguard His Majesty's Coastguard (HMCG) is a section of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency responsible, through the Secretary of State for Transport to Parliament, for the initiation and co-ordination of all maritime search and rescue (SAR) within the ...
for helicopter rescues and the USA uses the
United States Coast Guard The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and law enforcement service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the country's eight uniformed services. The service is a maritime, military, m ...
for theirs.


History


Sea

There were attempts as early as the 14th century to aid shipwreck victims with the Chinese training in resuscitation for the drowning, as well as Portugal and Sweden in the 1690s ordering that ships should be sent to sea to rescue shipwreck survivors, but the first mention of lifeboats was in China where boats were used to rescue people from the rivers in 1737.Evans, Clayton: ''Rescue at sea'', , Conway Maritime, 2003.


Air

The development of the seaplane meant that aircraft could be used to rescue people but was limited as they could not land or take off in heavy seas. Helicopters overcame this problem as they were able to hover over the victim and give aid by dropping a line to them with either a basket or diver to assist their extraction.


Modern Rescue Craft


Sea

Many types of boats and ships are used, ranging from 2 man inflatables, such as the IRB's, through RIRB's all the way up to larger purpose built vessels. For offshore and far from coast rescues operations most countries rely on Naval or Coastguard ships for these operations For submarines which have got into difficulty there are highly specialised rescue submarines and support ships such as the NATO NSRS and the USA's DSRV


Air


Inland or shallow water

There are still smaller boats which may be used on inland waters such as lakes or estuaries where the waters are generally calmer and shallow. These boats are often hand powered.


References


External links


Cronulla District Lifesaver Rescue Service
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rescue Craft Lifeboats