The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is a registered charity that saves lives at sea . Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coastlines. The RNLI operates over 230 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and has more than 100 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK. The RNLI is independent of HM Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824 its lif (more)