The Royal National Life-Boat Institution agreed to a request made at the International Life-boat Con- ference that it should act as a distributing centre for information which may be of general interest to all life-boat societies. The Institution sent a request to all life-boat societies overseas to supply up-to-date information on the strength of their fleet and the nature of their finances. The following table is based on the answers received in 1966: Country Name of Society Strength of Fleet Nature of Finances Australia Belgium Canada* Chile Denmark Finland France Department of Public Works Victoria, Ports and Harbour Branch Ministere des Communications, Administration de la Marine Department of Transport Cuerpo de Voluntaries "Botes Salvavidas" Redningsvaesenet Suomen Meripelastusseura Socidte Centrale de Sauvetage des Naufrages Society des Hospitaliers Sauveteurs Bretons 1 motor life-boat 3 motor life-boats 4 motor life-boats 2 motor life-boats 29 motor life-boats 5 pulling and sailing life-boats 5 patrolling rescue cruisers 14 motor life-boats 56 motor life-boats 8 inshore rescue boats 9 motor life-boats 30 motor beach patrol boats 105 inshore rescue boats State financed State financed State financed Voluntary contributions with a small State Grant State financed Voluntary contributions with a State subsidy Voluntary contributions but with State subsidies for maintenance and new construction Voluntary contributions with State and municipal subsidies Deutsche Gessellschaft zur Rettung Schiffbruchiger Germany 7 rescue cruisers with daughter boats Solely by voluntary contributions 6 middle-sized motor life-boats 8 small shore motor life-boats •The Canadian Life-Saving Service is co-ordinated with the Air Sea Rescue Services. Country Name of Society Strength of Fleet Nature of Finances Great Britain Royal National Life-boat Institution and Ireland Iceland Slysavarnafelag Islands India Department of Lighthouses and Light- ships, Ministry of Transport and Aviation Italy Societa Nazionale di Salvamento Japan Nihon Suinan Kyusai Kai Netherlands Koninklijke Noord-en-Zuid-Hollandsche Redding-Maatschappij Koninklijke Zuid-Hollandsche Maatschap- pij tot Redding van Schipbreukelingen New Zealand Sumner Life-boat Institution Inc.

Norway Norsk Selskab til Skibbrudnes Redning 148 motor life-boats 95 inshore rescue boats 4 motor life-boats 3 patrolling rescue cruisers 11 pulling boats 6 inshore rescue boats 2 ambulance aircraft 1 helicopter 2 motor life-boats 5 life-boats 43 motor life-boats 68 pulling life-boats 26 motor life-boats 8 motor life-boats 1 motor life-boat 1 pulling life-boat (reserve) 1 pulling life-boat with inboard motor (reserve) 12 wooden motor Ketches 6 steel cutters 12 ocean going motor cruisers 2 shore based motor boats 42 land rescue stations Solely by voluntary contributions Voluntary contributions with State and municipal subsidies State financed Voluntary Contributions Voluntary contributions with municipal subsidies Solely by voluntary contributions Solely by voluntary contributions Voluntary contributions with municipal subsidies Voluntary contributions aided by State subsidyCountry Name of Society Strength of fleet Nature of Finance Poland Polskie Ratownictwo Okretowe Portugal Institute des Socorros a Naufragos Spain Sociedad Espanola de Salvamento tie Naufragos Sweden Svenska Sallskapetfor Raddning af Skeppsbrutne Turkey Maritime Bank T.A.O. Coast Security Exploitation Uruguay Associacion Honararia de Salvamentos, Maritimos Y. Fluviales U.S.A. United States Coast Guard U.S.S.R. Emergency Rescue Service of the U.S.S.R.

State financed 6 patrolling rescue cruisers 6 motor life-boats 2 salvage tugs Voluntary contributions with State subsidies 17 motor life-boats 18 pulling and sailing life-boats 7 pulling life-boats equipped with auxiliary engines 7 motor life-boats Voluntary contributions with subsidies from official organizations Voluntary contributions 10 patrolling rescue cruisers 14 motor life-boats 1 inshore rescue boat 7 motor life-boats Financed by Turkish Maritime Bank 2 motor life-boats Voluntary contributions with a small State grant 527 inboard motor boats 498 pulling/outboard motor boats 141 cutters 59 amphibious helicopters State financed 71 amphibious aeroplanes 12 long range land based aeroplanes 220 motor-boats State financed 3,000 pulling boats 2 rescue cruisers.