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 Coastguard or Lifeboat??
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| peterlawlorbansha |
Posted on 24/09/2008 02:21
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 New Member  Posts: 6 Joined: 23/09/2008 |
Earlier this evening I was asked " What is the difference between the Coastguard Service and the Lifeboat Service?" After stumbling around for a while I came to the conclusion (rightly or wrongly) that they are both the same. I know that the lifeboats come under the RNLI and there are a lot of places that used to have Coastguard Stations but not any more. Maybe someone here can explain the difference if one exists? |
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| crimea1854 |
Posted on 24/09/2008 08:11
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 Administrator  Posts: 906 Joined: 09/07/2007 |
Peter This is in no way a definitive answer, but more my understanding of the difference between the two. The RNLI was created, and remains a charity, purely for the preservation of life at sea; where the Coastguard service, as we know it today, is an amalgamation of a number of different government agencies, primarily concerned with the prevention of smuggling, and the subsequent loss of Tax Revenue to the Government. However, because the CG Service was located around the coast it did develop a lifesaving roll, and there are numerous examples of individual acts of courage involving CG Men. Regards Martin |
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| Tony |
Posted on 24/09/2008 12:56
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 Administrator Posts: 136 Joined: 28/04/2007 |
Hello Peter, As Martin has said both organisations were quite distinct from each other. In the early 19th Century The Preventive Waterguard and later the Coast Guard Service, set up by the Government, were established to prevent smuggling and evading tax duties due to the state. The R.N.L.I. was a charitable organisation, and still is to-day, set up to save life at sea. The Coast Guard were granted permission to assist the R.N.L.I. when life was at stake "as long as it did not interfere with their normal work.". Many Coast Guard Officers and other ranks taking part in Lifeboat call-outs won medals for bravery. It should also be mentioned that many fishermen who were not on the R.N.L.I. rolls of volunteers, also had no hesitation in going out to sea if they perceived that life was at risk and sometime paid the ultimate price for their heroic endeavours. Regards Tony P.S. "Community Spirit" is not a modern phrase, it dates back a long time. |
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| peterlawlorbansha |
Posted on 24/09/2008 15:15
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New Member Posts: 6 Joined: 23/09/2008 |
Many thanks Martin and Tony for this information. You have fully answered my question. Peter. |
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