somerset
Well-Known Member
SWHMBO asked me the other day if the French marine emergency services,ambulance etc charge if you call for assistance.Do they?
French Emergency Services
- Thread starter somerset
- Start date
jhr
Well-Known Member
I believe that the French Lifeboat service charges for a call out, though I have a faint inkling that they do not do so when there's danger to life and limb. As a result, I suspect that some initially non life threatening situations may degenerate into dangerous situations because people don't want to call them out?
Stemar
Well-Known Member
No expert, but my understanding is that they don't charge for a call out, nor to save life, but a tow home is likely to be done on a commercial basis.
Incidentally, the non-RNLI lifeboats may charge for salvage too. My impression from talking to a crew member of one was that it could depend on how much of a prat they thought you'd been...
Incidentally, the non-RNLI lifeboats may charge for salvage too. My impression from talking to a crew member of one was that it could depend on how much of a prat they thought you'd been...
Barry777
Well-Known Member
a couple of years ago we were in Cherbourg when a French lifboat bought in an English yacht that had fouled it's prop close to Cap de la Hague......little wind so was in some danger.
Evidently it took around 5 hours in total to get to and bring the yacht in. We watched as a crew member donned a wet suit and went down and cut off the offending rope from the prop.
If I recall correctly the skipper was handed a bill for 2,000 euros ......and paid by credit card on the spot.
Evidently it took around 5 hours in total to get to and bring the yacht in. We watched as a crew member donned a wet suit and went down and cut off the offending rope from the prop.
If I recall correctly the skipper was handed a bill for 2,000 euros ......and paid by credit card on the spot.
maxi77
Well-Known Member
Technically the RNLI can claim salvage they just waive their right to in most cases.
lenseman
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 3 Jun 2006
- Messages
- 7,077
- Location
- South East Coast - United Kingdom
[ QUOTE ]
a couple of years ago we were in Cherbourg when a French lifboat bought in an English yacht that had fouled it's prop close to Cap de la Hague......little wind so was in some danger.
[/ QUOTE ]
The yacht owner obviously did not have an anchor or know how to use an anchor? No wind usually means flat calm weather no matter how close to the rocks you are?
He should have dropped his hook and jumped over the side and cleared the fault himself wearing a suitable safety line attached to the yacht. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
a couple of years ago we were in Cherbourg when a French lifboat bought in an English yacht that had fouled it's prop close to Cap de la Hague......little wind so was in some danger.
[/ QUOTE ]
The yacht owner obviously did not have an anchor or know how to use an anchor? No wind usually means flat calm weather no matter how close to the rocks you are?
He should have dropped his hook and jumped over the side and cleared the fault himself wearing a suitable safety line attached to the yacht. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
chanelyacht
Well-Known Member
OK, here's the definitive answer (for once!)
SAR services in France are organised slightly differently to the UK. This is the responsibility of the Prefet Maritime according to area (Manche, l'Atlantique and Med). Vessel traffic and SAR coordination are provided by two organisations - CROSS (Centres Regionnell Operations de Securite et Sauvetage) and the Navy semophore stations - in western France this is CROSS Joboug (Manche Centrale) and CROSS Corsen (Atlantique), supported by FOSIT Brest, the navy division who run the coast lookout stations.
In response to a distress call, CROSS can call upon other vessels in the area, two contract tugs (Abeille Bourbon and Abeille Liberte), the gendarmerie maritime and the SNSM (French RNLI). The Abeille tugs are not charged for, unless part of a salvage insurance claim (merchant shipping only) and neither is intervention by helicopter charged for.
If the SNSM are tasked to an incident, they may well wish to make a charge or instigate a salvage insurance claim. This would be discussed between the vessel and the coxswain - CROSS can intervene if language becomes a difficulty. I have not know a charge be made by SNSM for medevac, etc.
So yes, it is possible to be charged for rescue, but this would not affect the safety of a vessel in danger, financial arrangements are for sorting out after the event.
SAR services in France are organised slightly differently to the UK. This is the responsibility of the Prefet Maritime according to area (Manche, l'Atlantique and Med). Vessel traffic and SAR coordination are provided by two organisations - CROSS (Centres Regionnell Operations de Securite et Sauvetage) and the Navy semophore stations - in western France this is CROSS Joboug (Manche Centrale) and CROSS Corsen (Atlantique), supported by FOSIT Brest, the navy division who run the coast lookout stations.
In response to a distress call, CROSS can call upon other vessels in the area, two contract tugs (Abeille Bourbon and Abeille Liberte), the gendarmerie maritime and the SNSM (French RNLI). The Abeille tugs are not charged for, unless part of a salvage insurance claim (merchant shipping only) and neither is intervention by helicopter charged for.
If the SNSM are tasked to an incident, they may well wish to make a charge or instigate a salvage insurance claim. This would be discussed between the vessel and the coxswain - CROSS can intervene if language becomes a difficulty. I have not know a charge be made by SNSM for medevac, etc.
So yes, it is possible to be charged for rescue, but this would not affect the safety of a vessel in danger, financial arrangements are for sorting out after the event.
billmacfarlane
Well-Known Member
I think the French Lifeboat can charge depending on the rescue. I was towed into Granville after putting out a pan-pan by the local lifeboat and I wasn't charged. Mind you we sat with the lifeboat crew and drunk a bottle of Highland Park together. My French improved with every glass. Or so it seemed.
Oldhand
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
The yacht owner obviously did not have an anchor or know how to use an anchor? No wind usually means flat calm weather no matter how close to the rocks you are?
He should have dropped his hook and jumped over the side and cleared the fault himself wearing a suitable safety line attached to the yacht. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
[/ QUOTE ]
You have obviously not been off Cap de la Hague. Anchor in 50m of water, 5 knot tides and overfalls which cause a motion which brings the term "tumble dryer" to mind? I think not. All very well jumping over the side, but I think that's where you would remain in the environment to be found there. it's not exactly a location where you find professional dive boats operating, so I don't think it would be wise for a yachtie to "jump over the side" however stupid he might be.
The yacht owner obviously did not have an anchor or know how to use an anchor? No wind usually means flat calm weather no matter how close to the rocks you are?
He should have dropped his hook and jumped over the side and cleared the fault himself wearing a suitable safety line attached to the yacht. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
[/ QUOTE ]
You have obviously not been off Cap de la Hague. Anchor in 50m of water, 5 knot tides and overfalls which cause a motion which brings the term "tumble dryer" to mind? I think not. All very well jumping over the side, but I think that's where you would remain in the environment to be found there. it's not exactly a location where you find professional dive boats operating, so I don't think it would be wise for a yachtie to "jump over the side" however stupid he might be.
roly_voya
Well-Known Member
Second that old hand having been there in a flat calm we where spun more than once by tidal eddies, you can never tell unless you where there. One the piont of charges we are very lucky in this country to have completely free emergency services. When mountaineering on the continent it has always been the case that we took out rescue cover for the cost of rescue/medical evacuation. I havent checked the policy but assumed that on the boat charges made for emergencie assistance would be recoverable from my insurers, they cirtainly appear to cover all other cost resulting from an insured peril.
Roberto
Well-Known Member
As said above, CROSS is the authority managing all rescue operations at sea. They may dispatch Gendarmerie boats and helicopters, SNSM lifeboats, firemen boats and helicopters, etc.
Life rescue is always free.
Medical advice is given for free through relay to the official medical centre in Toulouse, in case of need the medical centre can ask for evacuation, in which case it is free. Should you ask for evacuation because of a twisted toe then I'd expect to be charged.
Rescue of things is left to appreciation of the SNSM boat captain. Quite often (esp. in cases of people with empty tanks) they would ask the skipper "ok we can come to assist but there will be a cost, are you/your insurance ok with that ?".
OTOH, I sometimes heard them struggling for hours pumping water out of boats without anyone left on board, while towing them into port, and eventually make no charge at all.
Life rescue is always free.
Medical advice is given for free through relay to the official medical centre in Toulouse, in case of need the medical centre can ask for evacuation, in which case it is free. Should you ask for evacuation because of a twisted toe then I'd expect to be charged.
Rescue of things is left to appreciation of the SNSM boat captain. Quite often (esp. in cases of people with empty tanks) they would ask the skipper "ok we can come to assist but there will be a cost, are you/your insurance ok with that ?".
OTOH, I sometimes heard them struggling for hours pumping water out of boats without anyone left on board, while towing them into port, and eventually make no charge at all.
Sailfree
Well-Known Member
Rescues and repairs are always perfect from an armchair.
Off Cap de la Hague I have seen 14.8kts on the GPS in calm water while the boat was gently sailing at 4.4kts.
At what speed of current would an anchored boat get dragged under. I certainly think anchoring in 10.4kts of current has its own risks.
Off Cap de la Hague I have seen 14.8kts on the GPS in calm water while the boat was gently sailing at 4.4kts.
At what speed of current would an anchored boat get dragged under. I certainly think anchoring in 10.4kts of current has its own risks.
wooslehunter
Well-Known Member
In the Solent where the majority of boats are independant, none of them will charge or claim salvage. They are all charities & charging would put their charitable status at risk. They will however gladly accept any donations since they do not have the backup of one of the largest fund raising operations in the country have no paid staff and have to raise everything themselves.
drawp
Well-Known Member
In May last year, my boat broke loose from its mooring in the Villaine River in a blow and ended up in the mud. The Pompier were called out and recovered the boat back onto the mooring. There was no charge.
