Dover lifeboat is one of the busiest in the county.

Latest figures from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution show that the number of Dover calls increased by 15 per cent from 19 in the first six months of 2007 to 22 in the same period this year.

The only two busier stations are Ramsgate (43 calls) and Sheerness (41).

Launches to powered pleasure craft – jet skis, diving boats, small open power boats and large open power boats measuring over five metres – has seen the biggest increase, while calls to ships with machinery failure continue to account for about one third of the launches.

The Dover boat rescued 14 people from January to June this year.

Walmer lifeboat crew launched on 12 occasions, rescuing 10 people, compared with two launches in the first six months of last year when four people were rescued.