National Lifeboat Institution

National Lifeboat Institution, The Rotal, founded in 1824, is an association for the providing and maintaining of lifeboats and lifesaving appliances on the coasts of Great Britain and Ireland, and for rewarding gallant services in connection with the saving of life at sea. It supports nearly 300 lifeboats, and has been instrumental in saving nearly 35,000 lives. Since 1854, when the self-righting lifeboats were introduced, those vessels have been launched about 6,500 times. A sum of £3,000 is sufficient to provide and endow one of the most modern boats.