French Rescue services

[Robin]

Here i the USA there is an organisation called 'BoatUS' and associated org. 'Towboat US' that is a network of commercial tow folk for the embarrassing occasion when you might run out of fuel or find the mud (we haven't yet I might add). We have unlimited Towboat US coverage for about $150 per year that we took out initially when we lived/cruised on a mobo but we still keep it up as they also cover a tow even from the marina to a repair facility, There is nothing here like the wonderful RNLI, an organisation the UK has a right to be really proud of IMO

 

[Roberto]

I have found the 2012 fees for one hour of towing, as given by a SNSM station head:

1st class vessel : 345 euro/hour
RIB: 150 euro/hour

Probably a tiny % higher for 2014..

 

[Sybarite]

On the VHF, I listened to a significant number of cases where the SNSM intervened. Life rescue is always free of any charge, as to rescuing boats, there is no hard and fast rule.

Most times, the MRCC/CROSS will assess the situation on the radio and relay a VHF Mayday/PanPan, depending on the case.
In case of Mayday, the cavalry is sent, SNSM, helicopters, gendarmerie units, etc etc: of course the utmost priority is to save lives, if they can they later do their best to save the boat too, for example in one case they sent the helicopter with a high volume pump to try and save a boat; personally I have never heard of compensation being asked in those cases, but it may be possible.

In case of panpan, whoever is going to help (be it the snsm, a nearby fishing or leisure vessel, etc) will get in touch with the MRCC. If it is deemed that a compensation will be necessary, they ask the owner if he agrees.

I may be wrong, but I tend to think the case described above (a very seasick singlehander in a delicate situation), even when technically still a panpan, would be treated with a lot of understanding..

On the other hand, as to the motorboat running out of fuel on a peaceful day... should it want a tow it would surely be charged, but will be told beforehand.

As John-Sybarite said, the hourly fees are fixed and related to the unit being used, I seem to remember the biggest snsm boat charges a few hundred euro per hour (I have a 450ish or 750ish figure in mind, sorry cannot be more precise).

On Hisse et O an example was given : 2 hours by the lifeboat at La Trinité @ €345/hr, the whole amount being reimbursed by his insurance.

 

[JumbleDuck]

There is nothing here like the wonderful RNLI, an organisation the UK has a right to be really proud of IMO

An interesting question, and one which I pose without intending criticism of the RNLI, is why the model has been so infrequently adopted elsewhere. It's a bit like the NHS which we all (quite, UKIP) love and think is the best system in the world but which, curiously, nobody seems to want to copy.

 

[Daydream believer]

It's a bit like the NHS which we all (quite, UKIP) love and think is the best system in the world but which, curiously, nobody seems to want to copy.

Off thread i know, but I cannot let that one go without comment!!!!


There are those that might disagree with you, & justifiably so. Hence perhaps the reluctance to copy
I just hope the comment was your form of sarcasm

 

[Sailfree]

An interesting question, and one which I pose without intending criticism of the RNLI, is why the model has been so infrequently adopted elsewhere. It's a bit like the NHS which we all (quite, UKIP) love and think is the best system in the world but which, curiously, nobody seems to want to copy.

I think the UK can be biased in judging how good the RNLI, NHS and even our Army and Education system is. Understandably if they were vastly superior to other countries then why aren't they copied. I often think we can learn lots from other countries but we are too arrogant to compare how others do it.

WRT the RNLI I think the bravery of the crews and their skills make them a sacred cow. Possibly the use of funds and senior management could be better but you criticise at your peril.

 

[JumbleDuck]

Off thread i know, but I cannot let that one go without comment!!!!

There are those that might disagree with you, & justifiably so. Hence perhaps the reluctance to copy
I just hope the comment was your form of sarcasm

I'm sorry, but I can't work out what you mean here. I was being quite straightforward: Nigel Lawson was quite right when he described the NHS as "the closest thing we now have as a people to a collective religion" and yet we don't, collectively, seem to worry that practically nobody else has gone down the NHS route.

I think the UK can be biased in judging how good the RNLI, NHS and even our Army and Education system is. Understandably if they were vastly superior to other countries then why aren't they copied. I often think we can learn lots from other countries but we are too arrogant to compare how others do it.

Absolutely. We tend to believe that how we do things is by definition perfect and that we don't have to learn lessons from anywhere else. In fact I think ne of the strongest aruments for the continuing union is that having two different systems for so many things allows innovation without too much "it's foreign so it must be rubbish" reaction.

WRT the RNLI I think the bravery of the crews and their skills make them a sacred cow. Possibly the use of funds and senior management could be better but you criticise at your peril.

And that's true as well. The lightest criticism of the RNLI is met with "would you say that to a lifeboat crew member who had just answered your distress call at 4am" to which the answer is no, but that's not the point. I don't blame the nurses who are doing a fantastic job looking after my father in hospital for the problems of the NHS either.

 

[Robin]

Well my personal experiences with the NHS ( two total hip replacements before we left the UK and the USA money oriented system ( I had a stroke, hospital bill of $43,000 for the stay alone, more still for the docs and associated services like scans and so on) has me definitely favouring the NHS and there is no contest whatsoever in my mind between the RNLI and the USCG although my views on some forums have apparently pissed off a few septics on that subject in the last sad week or so.

 

[DownWest]

A footnote to this:
Three friends were sailing round the Isle d'Aix when it all went wrong and they capsized. While competant, they could not bail the boat, or keep it upright, so eventually set off the red flares, the passing ferry spotted them and fished them out, then the helio carried them to hospital for a check up. The Gendarmerie de Mer recovered the boat and she was moored at the Isle d'Aix. I joined the owner to bring her back the next day with my spare outboard, as his was dunked. (lost some sailing bits and the rudder was with the G de M) Then we went to La Rochelle to collect the bits that the G d M had collected on their way back. They refused any payment ( we are not allowed to accept it..) There was a minor fee for the harbour guys who handled the mooring. Insurance payed that. Friend visited the ferry crew and gave a few bottles, no fee for saving them.

On the lighter side, we were boarding the boat from the water taxi and friend bent over showing a certain amount of cheek over his jeans, the girl driving the boat commentd to me that she didn't often get 'mooned' by her passengers. (same expression in French.)

The boat was modded to self rescue after that.

 

[billmacfarlane]

My experiences of the French rescue services is nothing but good. I was towed in to Granville after requesting help when my engine wasn't working due to the fact that the mainsheet had wrapped itself round the throttle when we were trying to get to drop the mainsail and ripped off the binnacle. Wind was about 25-30 knots. They came out and towed us in. Afterwards they came round to see us and to find out why we needed assistance. When we showed them the broken throttle they made sympathetic noises and I offered them a drink. We then sat down with the crew and demolished a litre of Highland Park. Their English was as bad as my French but the whisky acted as a babel fish. I wasn't charged anything for the rescue and I really don't know why.

 

[DownWest]

Might be because, like most seafaerers, they realise the genuine need for help, rather than the incompetant or careless.

 

[richardbayle]

http://www.tribord.com/en/sailing/m...nch-lifeboats-service-snsm-to-amateur-sailors

They are 'life savers', not boat savers.
They have their priorities right.

As a member of the SNSM I fully support the above statement.

+1

 

[Sybarite]

As a member of the SNSM I fully support the above statement.

+1

Moreover, in general I find French boaters to be a very congenial lot. Frequent invitations for the apéritif if not more.

Where are you based Richard. I'm at Locmiquélic.

 

[Sybarite]

http://www.tribord.com/en/sailing/m...nch-lifeboats-service-snsm-to-amateur-sailors

They are 'life savers', not boat savers.
They have their priorities right.

They also have legal constraints. They have already been attacked in law for evading social security payments related to a paid activity, and they have also received challenges from towing companies who complain of unfair competition.

 

[Daydream believer]

Might be because, like most seafaerers, they realise the genuine need for help, rather than the incompetant or careless.

The incompetent & careless still need help sometimes

 

[DownWest]

The incompetent & careless still need help sometimes

True, but charging them might improve their attitude.

 

[Talulah]

Bank Holiday Monday.
Swanage lifeboat tasked to tow in a yacht with a fouled propellor approx 15 miles south of Swanage.
The yacht was making under 2 knots.
Is this a good use of RNLI services? Personally I would have asked them if they had considered joining Seastart.

 

[dogleg]

Bank Holiday Monday.
Swanage lifeboat tasked to tow in a yacht with a fouled propellor approx 15 miles south of Swanage.
The yacht was making under 2 knots.
Is this a good use of RNLI services? Personally I would have asked them if they had considered joining Seastart.

the yacht would have asked for assistance CG would to use their terminology "tasked the most appropriate asset to effect the best outcome"


The second shout of the day came not that long after the first one. This time the all weather lifeboat was requested to assist a 36' yacht about 15Nm South of St Albans Head. The yacht had 4 people on board and had become entangled in what looked like a very large cargo net. The net was fouling the yacht's propellor and rudder meaning the crew were unable to steer and were just being pushed along by the increasing flood tide. The lifeboat launched and a course was plotted to intercept the yacht. A little over an hour later the lifeboat was on scene and a crewman was put aboard the yacht. One of the yacht's crew was feeling a bit seasick with the strange drifting motion. He was checked over and was fine. The yacht was now taken in tow back to Swanage. With the tide behind the 2 boats good time was made towards home. Once in Swanage Bay the yacht was handed over to the SeaStart boat from Poole that took it back to its mooring in Poole Harbour. The lifeboat was the released to return to station.


Swanage LB website report

 

[achwilan]

help?

The incompetent & careless still need help sometimes

No Sir... that's Darwin's natural selection!...

 

[LePacha]

More here: http://www.molene.fr/snsm_generale.htm

But in a nutshell:
Coût de sortie d’un canot tous temps : de 275 à 395 €/heure (all weather lifeboat)
Coût de sortie d’une vedette: de 110 à 260 €/heure (other lifeboats)
Forfait « planche à voile » 90 € (windsurf; I guess this is for them rescuing windsurfers and not coming to your rescue with a windsurf ).