FALMOUTH Lifeboat Station has been named as the busiest in Cornwall according to figures released by the RNLI today (Wednesday Feb 21).

Figures published by the RNLI highlight the continuing commitment of the charity's volunteer crews in the south west.

The 737 operational volunteers working at the 34 RNLI lifeboat stations in the south west, spent 1,961 hours at sea on emergency calls during 2006.

Last year the RNLI's south west fleet of 54 lifeboats launched 1,559 times, rescuing 1,552 people - an average of 30 people every week.

The busiest RNLI lifeboat station in the south was Poole in Dorset, which launched 138 times and rescued 139 people. The Torbay volunteer crews in Devon were second busiest, launching 133 times and rescuing 114 people.

In Somerset the busiest lifeboat station in 2006 was Weston-Super-Mare where the two inshore lifeboats launched 40 times and rescued 35 people, but close behind were the volunteer RNLI crews at Minehead who launched 39 times and helped 28 casualties.

The busiest station in Cornwall was Falmouth where the inshore and all weather lifeboats launched 81 times to rescue 78 people.

Howard Ramm, RNLI Divisional Inspector for the south, says it's important to acknowledge the commitment and dedication shown by RNLI volunteers around the south west coast.

He said: "The recent incident involving the MSC Napoli highlights the unseen dedication of our volunteer crews. The Lizard and Falmouth lifeboat crews were at sea for five hours that day, in horrendous conditions with seas up to 12 metres.

"As well as the crews, there were also volunteer shore helpers involved in launching and recovering the lifeboats. Examples like this not only highlight the commitment of our volunteers, but of their families and their employers who support their RNLI roles. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them all because without this good will, the RNLI would not be the successful life saving charity that it is today.

"Many of our emergency call outs last year were to leisure craft, including yachts and motorboats. I would therefore remind people that the RNLI is committed to prevention rather than cure, and that our sea safety department offer information and advice free of charge. You can call them on 0800 328 0600 or email seasafety@rnli.org.uk."