Rescue craft

A rescue craft is a boat, ship or aircraft used in rescuing.

The most common are Lifeboat (rescue) for Inshore and closer to shore rescues. For operations further out from shore helicopters & ships are mainly used.

Most Government agencies rely on larger ships for rescues further from shore such as Royal Navy ships in the United Kingdom and Coast Guard Cutters used in the USA (Although the UK Coastguard does use larger vessels to tow ships in distress). Similarly the UK uses both the Royal Air Force SAR and UK Coastguard for helicopter rescues and the USA uses the United States Coast Guard for theirs.