Società Nazionale di Salvamento
The Società Nazionale di Salvamento ( dt .: National Rescue Society ) is a non-profit , non-governmental sea rescue organization in Italy based in Genoa .
Tasks and organization
The SNS takes on rescue tasks on beaches and near the coast as well as on inland waters and, as Guardia Costiera Ausiliaria (German “auxiliary coast guard ”), forms an important addition to the state coast guard . Unlike the Coast Guard, the SNS only has small boats. The lifeguards of the SNS, like those of the Federazione Italiana Nuoto (Salvamento) and similar water rescue organizations, are present on numerous Italian beaches. The society has a total of around 65,000 members who are organized in over 200 sections. It is financed through membership fees, donations from private individuals and grants from public authorities. The SNS is involved in the Italian civil defense and a member of the International Maritime Rescue Federation .
history
The company was founded on July 30, 1871 in Genoa ( Liguria ) as Società Ligure di Soccorso ai Sommersi (English: "Ligurian Society for the Rescue of Shipwrecked People") and shortly thereafter renamed Società Ligure di Salvamento . In addition to sea rescue, swimming courses were also given and needy families of drowned seafarers were supported. In a very short time the society saw a large influx of volunteers from all social classes. In 1874 the Italian king became its honorary chairman. In 1876 it organized the first international congress of comparable institutions in Genoa. From 1918, the company took over the training and testing of lifeguards from all over Italy and then gradually established sections across the country. In 1997 it was integrated into the Italian civil defense as a volunteer organization.
See also
- Guardia Costiera
- Sea rescue organizations
- German Society for the Rescue of Shipwrecked People
- German Life Saving Society
- Water watch