His Majesty King Harald V of Norway opened Monday the Norwegian “Sea Rescue Company’s” new centre at Langgrunn near the town of Horten, south of the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The centre “RS Noatun” is the company’s new school and adventure centre.
His Majesty had the honour to cut the red ribbon under the supervision of Horten’s mayor, Are Karlsen, employees and volunteers at the Norwegian Sea Rescue Company. Hundreds of children and spectators were present and were very happy that the King had wanted to visit them. After the official opening, the ceremony continued in the restaurant Njord with food, speeches and songs about the sea performed by the famous Norwegian singer Helene Bøksle.
The centre will be the Norwegian Society for Sea Rescue’s new main-centre and Norway’s leading centre for maritime safety and maritime competence. In addition to the school, with an extensive simulator park and teaching building, the RS Noatun has a hotel, restaurant and event park houses. In the summer, the centre will be able to offer various activities and training for children and young people.
His Majesty King Harald. Photo: Oskar Aanmoen.
King Harald and the Norwegian Royal Family have always been fond of the ocean and think it is important to remember to be safe when travelling on the sea. King Harald is himself an active sailor and has participated in two Olympic Games for Norway in sailing. In the summer of 2017, at the age of 80, he also competed in the World Championship.
The Norwegian Society for Sea Rescue (Redningsselskapet in Norwegian) is the only organisation wholly dedicated to assisting people at sea along the extensive Norwegian coastline. It is a charity organisation funded by membership fees, donations, and partly by government subsidies.
It employs around 280 staff, 4200 volunteers, and has approximately 110.000 paying members. The organisation operates 50 vessels stationed along the Norwegian coastline, as well as one each stationed on the lakes of Femunden and Mjøsa.
