The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) set up a station at Gravesend in 2002. Its job is to save the lives of those who get into deep water. CHRIS JOHNSON spent a day with the team ...

Saving lives is all in a day's work for the RNLI team at Gravesend. When the crew get a call from London Coastguard, they aim to be at the scene within 15 minutes.

The Gravesend lifeboat station is one of four RNLI stations spotted along the Thames and was fully operational from January 2002.

The stations were set up as a response to the Thames Safety Inquiry following the Marchioness disaster in 1989 which left 51 people dead.

I started the day by clambering into my attire, which involved squeezing into a snug sheepskin-like garment to keep warm, before completing the ensemble with a watertight suit to stay dry.

By the time I was fitted with a self-inflating life jacket and state-of-the-art helmet, complete with an intercom system, I had taken about 10 minutes. If I had been on a real emergency call it is quite possible this delay could have cost someone their life.

As crew member and mechanic Sian Phillips, 29, explained, timing is everything. The launch deadline is three minutes, in which time crew have to be on the water ready to go with a clear idea of where they are heading.

Helmsman Matt Pavitt, 28, drove the E-Class RNLI lifeboat across the Thames, reaching a top speed of 45mph which feels fast on the water, especially when travelling against strong winds. The water was choppy too, which made for a white-knuckle experience.

We then went through a mock emergency drill which entailed towing a broken-down boat. I mucked in with the team. The crew jumped onto the other boat, securing it with ropes.

Every day is different for the team, with tasks varying from the mundane boat towing, to incidents involving sinking boats, or people threatening to throw themselves from bridges.

Station manager Ian Dunkley said: "We find several dead bodies in the waters each year.

"Just a couple of months ago we helped the Met Police recover the body of a young man who jumped off the QE2 Bridge at Dartford.

"It's not a pretty sight. A body will normally sink but will float to the surface a few days later.

"Last year we attended a drowning. Two young men had been out celebrating and decided to go for a midnight swim. One of them was dragged under by the current and died. Alcohol and cold water is not a good mix."

Ian, a former member of the Merchant Navy, was recruited in 2001 to help set up the Thames lifeboat operation from scratch.

At present, the Thames is experiencing a mini renaissance with more and more people using it.

Sian said: "The waterways used to be forgotten but now people realise the water is a good way to get around. Between 60 and 70 commercial ships pass our station everyday and the Thames Gateway is going to cause more water activity."

The Thames is also being developed as a commuter route, with the riverboat service proving popular following the London Tube bombings.

As such, the 43-strong team at Gravesend is a vital element of water safety and rescue.

Sian added: "It's important we are here to attend incidents and it's reassuring for water users."

More facts about the RNLI

RNLI uniforms costs nearly £1,000 each £450 for the wet suit, £500 for helmet complete with intercom communication system.

The cost of an E-Class RNLI lifeboat is £250,000.

Nationally, the RNLI, which is a charity responsible for raising its own funds, spends £115m a year.

Launch time is three minutes.

Target time to be at incident is 15 minutes.

There are 43 RNLI workers 33 of which are volunteers.

Top speed of boat of E-Class RNLI lifeboat is 40 knots approximately 45mph.

Gravesend RNLI station covers a 26-mile stretch between Canvey Island and Woolwich.

London Coastguard calls the lifeboat when it is needed.