Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue Service (abbreviated to GAFIRS) is an independent Inshore Rescue Lifeboat Service located at Stokes Bay on the peninsula of Gosport, Hampshire. The service provides free lifeboat cover in the Solent from Portsmouth Harbour to Titchfield Haven, on the approaching shores of Southampton Waters. GAFIRS are on call with HM Coastguard 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. When lifeboat crews are not on station, they are still ready for a immediate launch via pager callout. Additionally to the frontline lifeboat service, GAFIRS is also available to the counties other emergency services to respond to inland incidents such as flooding, snow rescue and inland water rescues.
| Year | Incidents |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 113 |
| 2009 | 138 |
| 2008 | 147 |
| 2007 | 93 |
| 2006 | 123 |
| 2005 | 108 |
1601 incidents attended since 1996.
2009 marked the charities 40th anniversary
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On the 17th October 2011, GAFIRS welcomed the famous yachtswoman Dee Caffari as the charaties new patron.[1]
Previously known as "Gosport Rescue 1," GAFIRS' frontline boat is a fully self-righting 7.4-metre Avon rigid-hulled inflatable boat. It is powered by a 300-hp Iveco diesel turbo engine driving a Castoldi water jet. The craft's speed is over 35 knots, and it can reach any part of its patrol area within 10 minutes of launch. Equipment carried includes sophisticated navigation equipment including radar, chart plotting, GPS (including AIS to allow tracking from the station) and an echo sounder, advanced first aid equipment, search and flood lighting, flares, two fixed VHF radios DSC Compatible and one VHF handportable.[2]
Gosport ILB (Inshore Lifeboat) is a 4.5-metre Avon WB450 and has been designed by the service as a patrol craft and secondary lifeboat. It is powered by a single 60-hp outboard engine. A specially designed trailer enables her to be taken to inland incidents, like Gosport Lifeboat it is equipped for rescue work including, flares (including para illuminates), tow lines, GPS (including AIS to allow tracking from the station) One VHF radio DSC Compatible, first aid equipment and damage control equipment.
Gosport Rescue Mobile is GAFIRS' long-wheelbase landrover, which acts as an incident support vehicle both for inland incidents and shoreside assistant for the organisations rescue craft. Gosport Rescue Mobile carries first aid, oxygen, Paramedic equipment and rescue stretchers. Additionally it carries light rescue tools and scene lighting equipment for protracted incidents. The vehicle is also fitted with emergency blue lights and sirens which can be used by trained and licensed personnel (who are all part of the emergency services as a profession.)
The organisation has a Cadet Section for youths between the ages of 14 and 18. The aim of the section is to teach the youngsters lifesaving skills both in canoes and on the beach, as well as traditional lifeguard skills. The service uses canoes for routine patrols and rescue work along the coastline of the area and additionally in support of the mud rescue teams. The canoes are normally paddled by the cadet section.
The canoes used are the 'Shark' rescue canoe, Selki rescue canoe, Plastic Sea Boats, The Shark was designed oringinallyby the service to withstand the rigours of life as a rescue craft, In total the service has 14 rescue canoes and two paddle boards.[3]
There are 235 RNLI owned lifeboat stations around the United Kingdom, there are also another 65 lifeboat stations which are not owned or managed by the the RNLI. GAFIRS is one of these "independent" lifeboat stations. GAFIRS is still available to the coastguard in the same way as the RNLI to provide lifesaving lifeboats and lifeboat crews 24 hours a day all year round.
In 2010, GAFIRS joined an awareness campaign in union with most independent lifeboat stations in the United Kingdom to illustrate and remove the common misconception of the public that there is only one charity “Saving Lives at Sea.” One of the important aims of the campaign "Go Orange for Indie Lifeboat" is to educate members of the public that their donation to the RNLI may not actually be going towards their local lifeboat station which is actually an independent, such as GAFIRS or Ryde Inshore Rescue.
Gosport and Fareham Inshore Rescue Website
GAFIRS 40th Year of Service Annual Report 2009
Independent Lifeboats UK Portal