Over 100 Years of Voluntary Maritime Rescue
The Finnish Lifeboat Society
The Finnish Lifeboat Society is the umbrella
organisation for voluntary maritime rescue associations in Finland.
The mission of the Finnish Lifeboat Society is to rescue people in
distress on the water. The Society also aims to promote safety in
boating and good seamanship.
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We rescue people in distress on the water
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We help boaters with problems or in situations involving danger
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We promote good seamanship and lifeboat safety
An Important Public Resource
Voluntary rescue is an important part of the national maritime rescue service. Based exclusively on the contribution of volunteers, the Society's total rescue capacity corresponds to the work of over 2,000 people during the boating season. Our volunteers are on emergency standby around the clock.
Professional Crews
All members of the Society's rescue teams receive
comprehensive training, including search, rescue, and first-aid skills.
Many of our volunteers also have special qualifications for rescue work
because of their regularprofession. Our crews include professional
divers, firemen, and doctors. Only people over 18 are accepted as
members of our emergency crews.
The Finnish Lifeboat Society offers interesting activities for young
people who like the sea. In our summer camps, youngsters between 12 and
16 are introduced to the basics of maritime rescue, and they also get an
opportunity to see lifeboats and rescue work under real-life conditions.
Members All Over The Country
The 2,000 volunteers of our member societies cover, in practice, the entire country, standing ready to rescue people in distress on the water from the Gulf of Finland to the lakes in Lapland. In the boating season, the societies are on call around the clock, rescuing and helping people in distress on the water in co-operation with the authorities. Keeping our lifeboats ship-shape requires servicing and maintenance throughout the year – all undertaken without compensation.
Over 100 Years of Voluntary Maritime Rescue
Voluntary maritime rescue service has a long tradition in Finland. The first maritime rescue station run by volunteers was founded on the island of Suursaari as early as 1857. The Finnish Lifeboat Society was established 40 years later to co-ordinate and develop the activities of the voluntary rescue services in Finland.
2000 sea and lake rescue volunteers
31 sea rescue societies or stations
29 lake rescue societies
140 rescue vessels
12 000 members