W ith one of the world's loveliest, albeit most rugged, coastlines - some 2,650km in length and encompassing waters ranging in potential dan yr from the relatively benign Skagerrak. via the remoteness of the cod banks off the Lofotens. to the harshness of the Arctic Ocean and Barents Sea - the scenario for disaster is truly immense.

When catastrophe or incident does occur, the purpose-buili vessels and craft of the Redningsselskapet - Norsk Selskab til Skipbbrudnes Redning - NSSR (Norwegian Society for Sea Rescue) are swiftly on the scene to save lives or assist the casually. The NSSR's immaculate white hulls and attractive livery, taken from the national colours, have been a major and quite invaluable feature of the country's seascape following the Society's foundation in 1891. Then, the operation relied on the much-loved cutlers of ihe Colin A niter class, arguably some of the most seaworthy sailing vessels of their size ever built. The first boat of this class was huill in 1893 and is now a proud exhibit in the National Maritime Museum. Almost 110 years later a state of the art fleet of varying classes, each specially designed to handle local environmental conditions, operates from sonn: 34 stations, covering Norwegian waters from Hovik near Oslo right round lo Vadso on Finnmark's Varanger Fjord and just across from the Russian border. Given the pattern of the country's maritime environment, it is totally logical that not all stations operate on a yearround basis.

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NSSR availability is based on tishing seasons, especially in the north and. increasingly, the volume of recreational activity, with the south understandably seeing upgraded readiness during the summer months.

Income Like the RNLI. the NSSR is a member-based organisation, financed through legacies, donations and fundraising campaigns, ihese last handled by around 5(K) local sea rescue associations. Income for 1999 was a record NKr376m (approx. £29m) hut, unlike the RNLI, an element (NKr5.8m) came from the government. This is reportedly due to reduce to NKr?v2m for the current year and there was a substantial contribution (some NKrStn) from the Society's own lottery. Other income came from gaming machines installed in shopping centres, airports, ferries, etc. with additional revenue stemming from the many paid assignments carried out by cutters each year.

(»[•) Oijganiiation Control of the Society is exercised hy its Naiioiul Congress, which comprises delegates from local sea rescue associations and meets once every two years. From their ranks the Executive Committee is chosen, together with ihe President and Vice President.

Between them, they are responsible for the satisfactory organisation of operations, management and finance.

At the time of writing, the NSSR had around 300 employees, almost 190 of whom were employed at sea, 45 worked at the Hovik main office near Oslo and the remainder worked throughout the country on fundraising and other organisational and support tasks. Membership is in several classes - in 1999 coast patrol members numbered over 21.000 and paid NKr425 each annually.

This qualifies them for a wide range of afloat assistance - towing, the provision of divers, discounted boat insurance schemes, escort across some exposed coastal areas during the summer months, etc. The objectives and effects of this scheme also include accidentprevention, subscription income and the strengthening of the Society's organisation through attracting people with maritime interests to various levels of its activities. There were also over 8,2(K) people enjoying other types of support membership and a great deal of time and effort is concentrated on publicising the benetits stemming from legacies and donations, with around NKr 8m coming from this source in 1999.

C+) ft When operational, almost all stations are manned on a full-time basis, with the exception being a small number of Sjoredningskorpset (volunteer) units located near Oslo. Arendal and Farsund. Calls come from Norway's two main Rescue Co-ordination Centres (Slavanger and Bodo) and when on service, control is exercised by the local police authorities. Although the primary task of NSSR remains that of sea rescue, unlike the RNL1. and subject to availability, other service and assistance related assignments can he undertaken.

These include carrying pilots, taking personnel, mail and supplies to remote ligthhouse stations and sampling for the Norwegian Water Research Institute in the outer Oslofjord. As a result, the NSSR states. 'Mortal danger is not a prerequisite for requesting help from one of the Society's vesselv' Currently, the rescue cutters, the cutting edge of the operation, are of eight separate classes and range in size from 92ft to 35ft, with speeds varying between 10 and 30 knots. The oldest RS. Huakim VII, dates from 1958 and the most recent. RS Uluhruml, is only two years old. All are equipped with a comprehensive rescue and support equipment package, its make-up stemming from over I (M) years of operational activity.

The communications and navigation aids include radar.

Global Positioning System (GPS). Loran C (a GPS backup system), short and medium wave radio (HF and MF). VHF(FM). Radio Direction Finder (RDF) and c e l l u l a r telephones. Where appropriate a 'daughter' boat or inflatable is also carried, together with fire and siiKage pumps, towing gear, rescue harness and net plus di ing equipment (one diver is always included in a cutter crew).

Impreiiive The author was privileged to visit the immaculate 67ft RS Bergen Kreiis. stationed at Haugesund and covering the area between Bergen and Stavanger.

Completed in 1998. at a cost of over NKr 13m, she had a crew of four (two of whom were divers) who lived on board and were on call on a 24-hour basis, working a four weeks on/four weeks off shift. They could be sent to any near-similar vessel in the NSSR inventory and one was expecting his next duty period to take him to Finnmark. in the Norwegian Arctic.

A short demonstration in calm and foggy conditions off Stavanger provided an insight into her impressive capabilities: 25 knots from 2 x 1.300bhp Mitsubishi diesels, and quite remarkable manoeuvrability in all planes stemming from her thruslers. The equipment in her capacious wheelhouse could have provoked the envy of a small warship, although the lack of a wheel could have caused some confusion: instead each of the steering positions has a sidestick controller similar to that found in Airbus airliners. Near 360" windows provided excellent all-round visibility and much thought had been put into the location of consoles, chart tables, etc. Accommodation standards were to an equally high standard with a well-furnished crew room, comfortable cabins, shower/toilet, galley. TV. video and radio - although when asked what it was like when on service rough seas, one crewman noted. 'Can be lively, but this is why we are here and you just have to make sure that e er thing is very well secured.' A wealth of ancillary equipment was stowed in numerous lockers: tin ing suits, (uniquely to Bergen Kreds) remotely operated vehicle (unmanned mini-submarine), salvage and other tools, pumps, pneumatic line-throwing gear capable of reaching out to around 3(K)m, and much, much more.

Of particular interest was the launching and recovery of the 30-knot, water jet powered, daughter boat - both operations took but a few seconds and could be accomplished in even heavy weather conditions.

5ucctt Since its establishment in 1891. the NSSR has built or acquired a total of 119 cutters and. although they are no longer wooden hulled and heavily rigged to sail through the worst the ocean can throw at them.

their modern successors carry out the same essential role off one of the most dangerous costs in the world.

Some 1 .(XX) years on from the Viking era (one wonders what Leif Eriksson, the reputed discoverer of North America, would have made of Bergen Kreds), the present generation of the NSSR's seafarers puts out when everyone else turns back or remains ashore. The success of the Society and its role offshore Norway is reflected in last year's operational results: 166 lives saved. 134 vessels saved, no less than 9.935 people assisted, 1.719 vessels assisted, 177 searches. 1,487 diving missions and much more. Even at a purely statistical level these figures are impressive and prove that, like their counterparts in the RNLI on the other side of the stormy North Sea. help and assistance in sea areas ranging from the Barents Sea to the Skagerrak is always on call regardless of the elements.*Mr Ferguson, a journalist specialising in aviation and maritime matters, is a former Aberdeen lifeboat crew member, and currently the local station branch press officer.

He wishes to express grateful thanks la the SSR, Braathens ASA and , onk Helikopterfor their assistance in preparing thin feature..