The primary mission of the Nova Scotia Lifeboat Institute is to provide volunteer marine rescue services and to promote public and fishermen Personal and Boating Safety throughout Southwestern Nova Scotia and throughout Atlantic Canada.

Our secondary mission is in the area research and development for marine safety and survivability at sea. Our goal is to bring positive and life saving technologies to those on the water, whether for recreation or livelihood.

The Surfmen and crews that undertake this work are specially equipped and trained to carry out marine rescue and recovery of survivors from lifeboats, life rafts or directly from the sea and transfer them to a "place of safety" for those who may find themselves in the sea in all but exceptional weather conditions. They are trained to provide any medical aid that they may have to administer in the event of an emergency.

And to strengthen the coping capacity of the Canadian Coast Guard, as we saw it, along the South Western Shore of Nova Scotia.