Welcome to the Solent Sea Rescue Organisation.
The website has been setup to act as a portal to the SSRO member units, and to also to provide a background into the SSRO, and its work in the background supporting and coordinating the UK's largest grouping of independent lifeboats in one of the UK's busiest commercial and pleasure waterways.
The SSRO was set up by the county council in 1977 in partnership with maritime local authorities around The Solent as the umbrella organisation supporting beach and sea rescue units on The Solent, the SSRO became a registered charity in 1979.
The Charity is established to preserve or assist in the preservation of life and prevention of injury at sea on the foreshore of the Solent and on the beaches of the counties of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.,The SSRO brings together the eight independent Lifeboat and Rescue Organisations that cover the Solent and its approaches, The SSRO provides financial, training and administrative support to the units, whom are all declared Facilities with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
The Solent is very beautiful and inviting for sea lovers, it is recognised as one of the busiest waterways in the world and also as one of the United Kingdoms Busiest waterways, Not only are there tens of thousands of major shipping movements every year, but also thousands of small boats and yachts enjoying it relatively sheltered waters
The Solent is also one of britians most popular area's for water based sports and leisure activities, during the summer the busy maritime scene is added to by an infulx of visiting pleasure craft, speedboat enthusiasts, jet skiers, windsuferes, canoists and dinghy sailors
Apart from the obvious dangers posed by fast moving large vessels, the solent has many other dangers for those afloat, Its relativley calm waters can become unexpectedly rough in a sudden squall and the maze of unpredictable, strong currents can pose difficulties, even for the most experienced of mariners, those who venture beyond the protective infulence of the isle of wight can also find the English Channel to be an unforgiving and hazradous enviroment.
It is not Suprising that with so many people of all ages and experince using the solent and nearby waters, a small number of them get into difficulties and inevitably some require the assistance of the Solent Sea Rescue Organisation units.
The eight independent Lifeboats & Inshore Rescue Services within the SSRO are Located at Strategic Positions on the coast lines of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Together they are called out on average to 500 Incidents per year, which is seeing a year on year increase.
These experienced and dedicated volunteers turn out in a weather conditions to help prevent the loss of life and thankfully the solent is a safer place tahnks to their dedication and commitment.
You never know when you may need them; Scores of people get into difficulties in the waters off Hampshire and the Isle of Wight every year and many owes their lives to one of the eight local independent inshore rescue services that together form the SSRO a crucial part of the safety and rescue cover coordinated by Solent Coastguard.
Everyone who spends time in boats or enjoying leisure activities along these shores, has the comfort and reassurance they can always rely on a rapid response if they are ever unfortunate enough to need help or assistance themselves.
Efficient and reliable emergency services tend to be taken for granted in this country and few spare a thought about who is providing the service and how it is paid for – as long as it is there when needed!
So who is operating the inshore rescue services based a five strategic locations along Hampshire coast covering the Solent and entrances to Southampton water and Portsmouth harbour, and the three strategic locations around the isle of Wight’s 60 mile coastline? And how are they kept afloat financially?
It is a common misconception that all inshore rescue services are run by the RNLI, in fact the solent is unique having the highest concentration of INDEPENDENT inshore Rescue services in the UK, there are many approximately 60 other locations within the uk that have independent inshore rescue stations.
When emergencies occur the rescue craft of these units are coordinated by the Coastguard service but remain separate from this government agency, they are all crewed by volunteers and receive no form of payment.
These independent units add additional resources and cover where there is no RNLI cover, the units work with the RNLI stations in the area under the coordination of Solent Coastguard (The RNLI has stations at Calshot, Cowes, Yarmouth, Lymington, Bembridge, and Langstone)
Few are aware of the huge commitment and voluntary effort is required to run these services, from fundraising, maintenance, and training which enables these services to operate and provide the vital cover needed.
Funding the units normally achieved by public generosity, fundraising events, and supportive local organisations and companies whom all make valuable contributions.
The only other source of income the units receive is from an annual grant from the SSRO, which again in turn is funded by public and private donations, the size of the grant depends on the level of cover provided, but averages at £4500, the units varying in their annual running costs from £7000 to £20000 per year, and thanks to both grants and their own fundraising many achieve this, the units concern is that providing for the future in terms of equipment, rescue craft and supporting these will become more expensive.
There is a clear message here for the public, these services are vital voluntary services dedicated to preventing injury and loss of life at sea, along the coast of Hampshire and Isle of Wight, but with the escalating marine and waterborne activities in the foreseeable future, that support is going to be needed ever more.
Registered Charity Number 277791
