The matter in summary: • There has been an increase in the number of serious rescue missions this summer compared to last year.• The rescue company registered a total of 3,521 missions from 1 May to 1 September this year, with an increase in search and rescue missions from 494 this year against 442 last year.• The crews have saved 24 lives from drowning, a sharp increase from last year when they saved 15 lives.• There have been many engine breakdowns, many of which could have been avoided with better maintenance, enough fuel and a sea chart on board. • The rescue company has had the most missions in Vestfold, followed by Agder and Oslo.• The weather has had a major impact on the number of missions, with a lot of wind and varying weather that has changed quickly. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAI. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. Secretary General Grete Herlofson of the Rescue Company tells of an increase in the number of serious assignments. – The summer has been characterized by more search and rescue missions compared to last year. Several of our fasting and volunteer crews have experienced this first hand. Increase in search and rescue From 1 May to 1 September this year, the Rescue Company registered a total of 3,521 missions. In the same period last year, 3,541 assignments were counted. Secretary General Grete Herlofson of the Rescue Association says that this summer they saved far more people from drowning than the year before. Photo: Ola Hana / news At the same time, search and rescue assignments increased from 494 this year to 442 last year. – During this period, our crew has saved a total of 24 lives from drowning. This is a sharp increase from last year when they saved 15 lives. Calls for better engine maintenance Camilla Sundbakk has been a volunteer on the “Prinsesse Ragnhild” lifeboat in Horten for three years. She tells of a demanding summer at sea. – There have been some ugly accidents this summer, many groundings, drownings and collisions with boats. Camilla Sundbakk, who volunteers at the Rescue Association, believes it has been a demanding summer with more serious accidents than in the past. Photo: The rescue company She says there have also been many engine breakdowns, but that many could have been avoided with better maintenance, enough fuel and with a chart on board. More people should also become more familiar with the waters they drive in, she believes. Suddenly, weather and conditions can change. – I have experienced a mother with young people on board who were wet, cold and tired. They were surprised by the darkness that came. They had a sailboat, but had also run out of diesel. There was no wind either. – When you sit with young people on board in the middle of the sea and can’t get anywhere, it’s a desperate situation. Good planning Over 10,000 registered leisure boats in Norway do over 50 knots. Inexperienced boat drivers, high speed, inattention and intoxication are examples that are repeated in the most serious incidents. According to the general secretary of the Rescue Company, the margins that separate happiness and misfortune are often very small. – Fortunately, we see that most boaters stay well updated on weather and wind conditions, and plan the boat trip with good safety margins. Respect for sudden and demanding weather changes seemed to have stuck with most people. In July this year, one of the Rescue Company’s vessels took part in a rescue operation off Tvedestrand. Photo: Redningsselskapet / Redningsselskapet The weather matters The rescue company has had the most assignments in Vestfold, followed by Agder and Oslo. In Vestfold alone, there were over 500 assignments this summer. The county also had the most serious incidents at sea. – Many people are at sea at the same time, but the variable weather probably meant that many people both in the inner and outer Oslofjord stayed along the Vestfold coast instead of traveling over to Sweden or taking longer trips, says Herlofson. The stable weather in the north has resulted in increased tourism and activity on land and sea, but without major serious incidents occurring. In April this year, the Rescue Company moved out to rescue two men who had crashed their boat at an islet outside Larvik. Photo: The rescue company Published 12.09.2024, at 06.06
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The rescue company had an increase in serious rescue missions at sea – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
