THE LIFE-BOAT [DECEMBER, 1954 Life-boat Societies Abroad The Royal National Life-boat Institution agreed to a request made at the International Life-boat Conference that it should act as a distributing centre for information which may be of general interest to all Life-boat Societies.

The Institution recently sent a request to all Life-boat Societies overseas to supply up-to-date information on the strength of their fleet, the nature of their finances and the numbers of services to British vessels. The following table is based on the answers received:— Country Belgium Denmark France Germany Iceland Italy Japan Netherlands New Zealand Norway Poland Portugal Spain tSweden U.S.A.

Name of Society Section of Administration de la Marine, Ministere des Communications.

Bestyreren af Redningsvaesenet.

Societe Centrale de Sauvetage des Naufrages.

Societe des Hospitaliers Sauveteurs Bretons.

Deutsche Gesellschaft zur Rettung Schiff bruchiger.

Slysavarnafelag Islands.

Societa Siciliana Salvataggi (Palermo).

Nippon Suinan Kyusaikai.

Koninklijke - Noord - en- Zuid-Hollandsche Redding- Maatschappij.

Koninklijke Zuid - Hollandsche Maatschappij Tot Redding Van Schipbreukelingen.

The Sumner Life-boat Institution.

Norsk Selskab til Skibbrudnes Redning.

Polskie Ratownictwo Okretowe.

Institute de Socorros a Naufragos.

Sociedad Espanola de Salvamento de Naufragos.

Svenska Sallskapet for Raddning af Skeppsbrutne.

United States Coastguard.

Strength of Fleet 3 motor life-boats.

23 motor life-boats.

19 pulling and sailing life-boats.

45 motor life-boats.

11 pulling and sailing life-boats.

5 motor life-boats.

65 small beach patrol boats.

32 motor life-boats.

6 shore stations with rocket apparatus.* 2-100 ton cruising lifeboat cutters.

2 motor life-boats.

9 pulling life-boats.

66 stations with rocket apparatus.

1 tug.

39 motor life-boats.

93 pulling life-boats.

25 motor life-boats.

8 motor life-boats.

1 motor life-boat.

1 pulling life-boat (reserve;.

27 patrolling rescue cruisers.

32 shore stations with rocket apparatus.

9 stations for servicing life-boats, tugs and ice-breakers.

19 motor life-boats.

23 pulling and sailing life-boats.

28 motor life-boats.

6 patrolling rescue cruisers.

16 life-boats.

8 shore stations with rocket apparatus.

625 motor boats.

41 pulling boats.

Nature of Finances State financed.

State financed.

Voluntary contributions but with subsidies for the maintenance of stations and post-war reconstruction.

Voluntary contributions with State and municipal subsidies.

Voluntary contributions with State or municipal subsidies for special projects.

Voluntary contributions with state and muncipal subsidies.

Financed by the shipping company of which it forms part.

Voluntary contributions with municipal subsidies.

Solely by voluntary contributions.

Solely by voluntary contributions.

Voluntary contributions with a municipal grant.

Solely by voluntary contributions.

State financed.

State financed.

Voluntary contributions with subsidies from official organisations.

Voluntary contributions with donations from towns and villages along the coast.

State financed.

Services to British ves~ sels in 1953 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 * 1 fast cruising life-boat is now under construction.

t The Swedish Board of Pilotage also has 5 life-boats and 20 stations with rocket apparatus which may be taken over by the Society..