RNLI program on TV great. Who'll rescue me in Greece or Croatia or Spain?

[tudorsailor]

I have been watching the program on the RNLI. Impressive dedication from the volunteers who go out to sea when we'd all stay indoors

My problem is that I sail in the Med at present. I have seen occasional coast guard boats but no lifeboats as such. If I need rescuing I wonder who'll come to my aid. In fact I do wonder how well monitored Ch16 is!

Can anyone reassure me?

TudorSailor

 

[duncan99210]

Spain has a set up similar to the French: government run agency Salvamento Maratimo (website http://www.salvamentomaritimo.es/) which does the whole SAR thing for Spanish waters. They have a range of rescue vessels from ocean going tugs to boats similar to the RNLI ALBs as well as aircraft.

Greece has their coastguard which have ribs or fast patrol craft in most ports. They also have a number of Haulmatic ALB type boats about the place, seemingly manned 24/7. If you listen to channel 16 you will often hear Olympia Radio (Greek coastguard radio) dealing with Mayday and Panpan calls. Just a point on calling for help via channel 16 in Greece: don't unless you really really need external help. The Port Police will almost certainly impound your boat after you get safely to port until you have had a survey conducted by a Greek surveyor for a fee of several hundred euros.

No idea about Croatia.

 

[sailaboutvic]

Spain has a set up similar to the French: government run agency Salvamento Maratimo (website http://www.salvamentomaritimo.es/) which does the whole SAR thing for Spanish waters. They have a range of rescue vessels from ocean going tugs to boats similar to the RNLI ALBs as well as aircraft.

Greece has their coastguard which have ribs or fast patrol craft in most ports. They also have a number of Haulmatic ALB type boats about the place, seemingly manned 24/7. If you listen to channel 16 you will often hear Olympia Radio (Greek coastguard radio) dealing with Mayday and Panpan calls. Just a point on calling for help via channel 16 in Greece: don't unless you really really need external help. The Port Police will almost certainly impound your boat after you get safely to port until you have had a survey conducted by a Greek surveyor for a fee of several hundred euros.

No idea about Croatia.

If you get rescue in Greece may depend a lot of they have and spare fuel in there boat .
On a serious note Duncan advise about not calling them unless you really really have to , is good advise .

 

[skipperwales]

Last year I was sailing off the Southern Atlantic coast of Spain when I was called on VHF by Huelva radio. They had noticed that my AIS signal had suddenly disappeared. I couldnt contact them on the fixed VHF set, but spoke to them on the handheld confirming that I was OK. Subsequently an electronics engineer confirmed that my fixed VHF transmitter had failed.

I found this really reassuring and I'm not entirely sure that UK coastguards would be as vigilant.

Bill

 

[vyv_cox]

At present there are more rescue boats in the eastern Aegean than probably most places on earth. Many European nations have sent craft there to assist with the migrant crisis (which seems to have transferred back to Italy). In Mytilini a month or so back there were a dozen or so big RIBs and larger craft on standby.

 

[dogleg]

Last year I was sailing off the Southern Atlantic coast of Spain when I was called on VHF by Huelva radio. They had noticed that my AIS signal had suddenly disappeared. I couldnt contact them on the fixed VHF set, but spoke to them on the handheld confirming that I was OK. Subsequently an electronics engineer confirmed that my fixed VHF transmitter had failed.

I found this really reassuring and I'm not entirely sure that UK coastguards would be as vigilant.Bill

the MAIB report into the loss of the Cemfjord off the Pentland Firth in Jan 2015 seems to confirm this

 

[chanelyacht]

the MAIB report into the loss of the Cemfjord off the Pentland Firth in Jan 2015 seems to confirm this

Until very recently, the AIS screen in most ops rooms was a wall mounted one, and VTM (vessel traffic monitoring) was not part of HMCG's remit (apart from Dover Straits / Sunk VTS).

On a large area, it simply isn't practical to physically watch a screen to see if a tag disappears, and AIS can be a vague thing anyway (due to radio limitations) so a disappearing tag won't necessarily indicate a problem.

Plus, only class A is compulsory so someone turning a set off on a class B would again not indicate a problem.

Having said all that, on a night like the Cemfjord, I as a watch manager would have had someone paying very close attention to the AIS, but UK Coastguard doesn't seem to believe in being proactive anymore, instead relying on waiting for the distress signal.

Another reason why the French system of MRCCs and semaphores is so much better, but successive UK governments abandoned that model decades ago.

 

[crazy4557]

I'm currently boating in Northern Sardinia and have wondered myself if there is a rescue service available on ch16. Plenty of passing boats who would assist but would be nice to know if serious backup was available.
Does anyone know the situation in this area?

 

[nickf]

I'm currently boating in Northern Sardinia and have wondered myself if there is a rescue service available on ch16. Plenty of passing boats who would assist but would be nice to know if serious backup was available.
Does anyone know the situation in this area?

Yes , the Guardia Costieria have off shore life boats as well as rigid inflatables which will operate up to 23 miles off shore. They can also call on rescue helicopters etc. Emergency phone number is 1530. Subject covered in Rod Heikell's Italian Waters Pilot under Safety and Rescue Services in Introduction.

 

[RichardS]

There is a commercial assistance organisation in Croatia which I have seen posters advertising at various ports around the country. I think it's like Sea Start or whatever it's called in the UK but I don't really know. The posters have a telephone number so you have to be in a signal area to contact them.

I have also seen the occasional orange Croatian lifeboat out and about as well as the Port Police patrol boats. I often see the Policia boats in harbour as well but I don't recall ever seeing a lifeboat station so I'm not sure where any lifeboats are actually based.

Richard

 

[Monique]

We were in Sardinia 2 months ago and never saw CG vessels. However, the Guardia Finanza controlled us 3 times. I got quite annoyed the third time and showed them my log which included date/time and a photo of me handing them my boat documents into a waiting fishing net while offshore. They then left.

There is so much tax avoidance in Italy, that they put in place this organisation. Too much taxation perhaps? Too high social costs?

 

[charles_reed]

Until very recently, the AIS screen in most ops rooms was a wall mounted one, and VTM (vessel traffic monitoring) was not part of HMCG's remit (apart from Dover Straits / Sunk VTS).

On a large area, it simply isn't practical to physically watch a screen to see if a tag disappears, and AIS can be a vague thing anyway (due to radio limitations) so a disappearing tag won't necessarily indicate a problem.

Plus, only class A is compulsory so someone turning a set off on a class B would again not indicate a problem.

Having said all that, on a night like the Cemfjord, I as a watch manager would have had someone paying very close attention to the AIS, but UK Coastguard doesn't seem to believe in being proactive anymore, instead relying on waiting for the distress signal.

Another reason why the French system of MRCCs and semaphores is so much better, but successive UK governments abandoned that model decades ago.

It is, IMHO, unreasonable to castigate our UK Coastguard for inefficiency when one sees the enormous cuts made in funding and personnel, since I was sailing in UK waters.
In Greece the Limenikas Soma are responsible for both SAR watch and for rescue. Nearly all the islands have Halmatic rescue launches, and a Pan-Pan or Mayday will result in immediate rescue and impoundment of the boat on entering port. The skipper may or may not be charged, in court, for incompetence or breaking Greek maritime law. the vessel will not be allowed to leave until it has been inspected and passed as seaworthy by an expensive, listed Greek surveyor.

In Croatia, (or so I was informed) your Panpan or Mayday will be handled and you'll be "rescued". If the rescue is deemed to be a genuine life-or-death situation, there will be no charge - if considered frivolous, costs will be passed on.

We are thoroughly spoilt in the UK with our charitable Lifeboat Service, crewed by volunteers. Nowhere in Europe (except Ireland) is better served. In all other countries SAR are government arms.

Speaking with the cox of the Samothraki launch in mid May - they'd done to date, this year, over 2000 engine hours, @ sea virtually every day and with no complete relief crew. Mainly refugees to be picked up and, now, returned to Turkey. Trouble was the Caterpillars were due a big service,
effectively a top-end overhaul.

 

[BrianH]

There is a commercial assistance organisation in Croatia which I have seen posters advertising at various ports around the country. I think it's like Sea Start or whatever it's called in the UK but I don't really know. The posters have a telephone number so you have to be in a signal area to contact them.

I have also seen the occasional orange Croatian lifeboat out and about as well as the Port Police patrol boats. I often see the Policia boats in harbour as well but I don't recall ever seeing a lifeboat station so I'm not sure where any lifeboats are actually based.

I have been informed that there are Croatian SAR bases in Pula and Trogir - here is a photo of the latter:

In the 35 years I have cruised Croatia I have never seen an "orange Croatian lifeboat", despite my entry fees listing costs for "Navigation, safety and pollution prevention". What did increase significantly over those years was the number and size of the Policija patrol boats - the one below based in Pula that seems to be used for checking foreign yachts payment of fees, if my experience in Soline bay, Veruda, is anything to go by. I suppose, at a pinch, they could be used for SAR duties but the bulk of that, controlled by the maritime coordination center at Rijeka, seems to be passed to the Croatian branch of SeaHelp, who have services at Pula, Pomer, Punat, Mali Losinj, Zadar, Tribunj, Split and Orebic.

 

[RichardS]

I suppose, at a pinch, they could be used for SAR duties but the bulk of that, controlled by the maritime coordination center at Rijeka, seems to be passed to the Croatian branch of SeaHelp, who have services at Pula, Pomer, Punat, Mali Losinj, Zadar, Tribunj, Split and Orebic.

Yes, SeaHelp, that's the organisation who put up the posters in Croatia. They are much bigger than I thought .... not just Croatia. I can't say that I've ever seen any of their boats around but perhaps they're not all "branded".

Richard

 

[BrianH]

Yes, SeaHelp, that's the organisation who put up the posters in Croatia. They are much bigger than I thought .... not just Croatia. I can't say that I've ever seen any of their boats around but perhaps they're not all "branded".
Richard

They are 'branded' well enough, this is similar to the one based at my marina Aprilia Marittima:

It is included in the Croatian area SeaHelp service at Lignano, which is actually in Italy. They are 8' ribs with a planned upgrade to 10'.

The bulk of the 'rescues' seem to be towing back to harbour because of engine failure and passing over fuel for those who run out. I'm not sure how they would cope with a serious call from a substantial, stricken vessel well offshore in a full bora gale. RNLI-type seagoing lifeboats they are not. Nor are they a free service.

So, to answer the OP, a Mayday in Croatian waters is likely to be answered by a SeaHelp vessel with a subsequent invoice.

 

[colind3782]

For my 32 footer they want €280 PA for membership.

 

[BrianH]

For my 32 footer they want €280 PA for membership.

:disgust: Expensive insurance but the business plan seems successful in certain areas, notably where German and Austrian yachts are based. It is, after all, an Austrian company.

They will respond to a call from a non-member - for a price and lower priority if a member has also requested help. From their web-site:

The assistance of members has got the highest priority at SEa-Help. Unfortunately, we still have to go to non-members and has to be billed out by our price list.​

The "Unfortunately" is amusing, as is the fact that the "price list" shows as a link but went nowhere for me.

 

[Metabarca]

Italy is actually pretty clued up with SAR on land and sea, given the number of earthquakes, landslides, eruptions, storms etc it suffers from. The Protezione Civile handles the land stuff but coordinates with the Carabinieri and Polizia. In the mountains, local guides are often called on to help, and there are helicopters on hand (free rescue for members of alpine clubs, charges made to gormless skiers who go off-piste despite avalanche warning signs). At sea, any of the forces may be called upon for a rescue, but the 1530 number mentioned will set the wheels moving. And the Guardia Costiera also keeps a listening watch on ch 16.

 

[FWB]

Before Magellan set sail, he no doubt agonised over who was going to come and rescue them before they set sail.

 

[knuterikt]

Found this information http://www.dalmatiancoast.com/holidays/general/maritime-search-rescue.html