French Lifeboat tows.

[Sandy]

We are currently in France and on seeing an old friend who is a volunteer with SNSM he was telling me about a British flagged yacht who was towed in and then left without paying their bill! They are not a happy lifeboat crew!

I've given them a few pointers on how to identify the owner and hope that UK yacht owners, this one in particular, do the decent thing and pay their towing fees if they are in the unfortunate position of needing the services of SNSM.

 

[LONG_KEELER]

We are currently in France and on seeing an old friend who is a volunteer with SNSM he was telling me about a British flagged yacht who was towed in and then left without paying their bill! They are not a happy lifeboat crew!

I've given them a few pointers on how to identify the owner and hope that UK yacht owners, this one in particular, do the decent thing and pay their towing fees if they are in the unfortunate position of needing the services of SNSM.

Just as a matter of interest, any idea how much the bill was ?

Edit - Getting towed at sea isn't free!

 

[Sandy]

Just as a matter of interest, any idea how much the bill was

I know to the cent, several thousand euros.

 

[Robin]

Just as a matter of interest, any idea how much the bill was ?

Edit - Getting towed at sea isn't free!

Free if lives at risk, chargeable otherwise BUT when we were towed in from Raz de Sein some years back the initial tow clear of danger was done by a fishing boat who then negotiated a swapover to Audierne lifeboat unbeknownst to us. Lifeboat towed us 8mls and it cost 750 Euros, plus a bottle of my best scotch. We were not at risk when towed by LB so therefore got charged, even though when we were very much at risk when the fishermen towed us and they got nowt. they were a huge deep sea trawler out of Guilvenec.

Towing costs charged by a) size of LB and b) distance towed.

 

[peteK]

May be able to claim of insurance for tow.

 

[Frogmogman]

Edit - Getting towed at sea isn't free!

I love that the translation of vedette in the article of your link is star, when in this instance vedette of course means launch or cutter.

 

[JumbleDuck]

I love that the translation of vedette in the article of your link is star, when in this instance vedette of course means launch or cutter.

I think it's because "vedette" originally meant "sentry" or "scout" which in the "going out ahead" sense applied to the lifeboats. However, in the same way it was also adopted to mean a "cabaret star" so it has ended up with two meanings, both of which relate sensibly to their common root but which don't relate sensibly to each other.

 

[Sandy]

May be able to claim of insurance for tow.

That is something I'll be asking my insurance company, but does not solve the immediate issue of a lifeboat station short of funds.

 

[Robin]

That is something I'll be asking my insurance company, but does not solve the immediate issue of a lifeboat station short of funds.

Pants said they would but at the time less than 12 months with them, our excess was the same as the tow bill, so no point claiming.

 

[mjcoon]

That is something I'll be asking my insurance company, but does not solve the immediate issue of a lifeboat station short of funds.

I had wondered if there is a reciprocal arrangement with the RNLI for charging for towing French boats...

 

[Frogmogman]

I had wondered if there is a reciprocal arrangement with the RNLI for charging for towing French boats...

More to the point, in view of the RNLI's financial difficulties, maybe it would make sense for them to study the idea for general policy. After all, the raison d'être of the RNLI is saving lives at sea, not providing a free salvage and towing service.

 

[Concerto]

May be able to claim of insurance for tow.

I enquired of my insurer about this situation and my policy will cover any tow fees.

 

[PilotWolf]

Was this a genuine mistake though? Used to knowing the RNLI don’t charge assumed it was the same there?

Surely the SNSM crew took down some details of the yacht and owner?

W.

 

[GTom]

More to the point, in view of the RNLI's financial difficulties, maybe it would make sense for them to study the idea for general policy. After all, the raison d'être of the RNLI is saving lives at sea, not providing a free salvage and towing service.

OTOH, abandoning several tons of plastic at sea, filled with 20-200 gal diesel creates other dangers. I know it's a catch 22...

 

[PilotWolf]

OTOH, abandoning several tons of plastic at sea, filled with 20-200 gal diesel creates other dangers. I know it's a catch 22...

I don't know the answer, even for here, but how many other countries offer a free towing service?

We have Seatow here and it's usually one of the first things the coastguard asked after making sure the vessel wasn't in danger. I know they're south coast based but do Seastart offer towing as part of the package?

W.

 

[LittleSister]

I know to the cent, several thousand euros.

Perhaps the owner didn't have several thousand euros, and a moonlight flit seemed the only way out?

(Not that I'm saying that would be OK.)

 

[LONG_KEELER]

Free if lives at risk, chargeable otherwise BUT when we were towed in from Raz de Sein some years back the initial tow clear of danger was done by a fishing boat who then negotiated a swapover to Audierne lifeboat unbeknownst to us. Lifeboat towed us 8mls and it cost 750 Euros, plus a bottle of my best scotch. We were not at risk when towed by LB so therefore got charged, even though when we were very much at risk when the fishermen towed us and they got nowt. they were a huge deep sea trawler out of Guilvenec.

Towing costs charged by a) size of LB and b) distance towed.

I suppose sometimes we just have to take the hit and move on.

 

[Robin]

Was this a genuine mistake though? Used to knowing the RNLI don’t charge assumed it was the same there?

Surely the SNSM crew took down some details of the yacht and owner?

W.

IN OUR CASE THEY ASKED TO SEE AND TOOK NOTE OF REGISTRATION PAPERS before casting off from us. They did say they expected our insurers would pay but we had only changed to Pants a few months prior and our fist year's excess was £500 so not worth claiming the750 euros bill and our otherwise perfect NCB.

AND NO the RNLI should not charge and risk people not calling for help soon enough or at all.

 

[Sybarite]

Some observations.

• Non payment specifically by British yachts has been brought up in official reports by stations in the past. Apparently it is far from being unusual.
• The charge by the SNSM is on a strict cost only basis.
• The SNSM has been attacked in France by towing companies for unfair competition practices on the basis that they are undercharging.
• Normally towing charges are covered by insurance.
• You might say that in the UK people have paid in advance because of the very large reserves held by the RNLI.

 

[Sandy]

The RNLI works to a different operating model than SNSM, simples. A bit like McDonald's and Burger King. In both cases you get a beef burger in a bun with chips but the ingredients are different.

What annoys me is somebody took advantage of people's time, skill and effort. Then slipped out to continue their voyage south.

The crew have details and advice given on how to contact the owner.