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

[EldadHadani]

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.

I believe that for a true Mayday anyone is obligated to respond free of charge. However, a PanPan sort of call (like out of fuel) will be charged.

 

[BrianH]

I believe that for a true Mayday anyone is obligated to respond free of charge. However, a PanPan sort of call (like out of fuel) will be charged.

Perhaps that's what they mean by "Unfortunately".

"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."​

 

[knuterikt]

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.

So Norway is not part of Europe, when was we excluded?
https://www.redningsselskapet.no/english/

 

[Sybarite]

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.

In France SAR is coordinated by CROSS an official body but the rescue part is mainly delegated to the SNSM which is a private charity to which the government makes a donation.

The SNSM is crewed by volunteers but the organization is also administered by volunteers and I believe their coverage of the coast is every bit as complete if not more so than in the UK.

 

[Angele]

In France SAR is coordinated by CROSS an official body but the rescue part is mainly delegated to the SNSM which is a private charity to which the government makes a donation.

The SNSM is crewed by volunteers but the organization is also administered by volunteers and I believe their coverage of the coast is every bit as complete if not more so than in the UK.

Thought you might jump in there, Sybarite.

While you are here, a quick question. What service do the French Semaphore stations provide? Take the one on Cap de Carteret in Manche (contactable on Ch9). Are they a bit like National Coastwatch here in the UK?

Oh, and do you recall (in one of your previous threads about SNSM vs RNLI) I made a little dig at you about the SNSM lifeboat at Saint-Vaast-La-Hougue lifeboat being kept in the (tidal) marina? Well, you might like to know that the Carteret one is also safely tucked up inside the tidal marina. So, usable about 6 hours in every 12. :nonchalance:

But that isn't a problem, because the St Helier RNLI ALB is only a stone's throw away and is available 24/7.

 

[Sybarite]

Thought you might jump in there, Sybarite.

While you are here, a quick question. What service do the French Semaphore stations provide? Take the one on Cap de Carteret in Manche (contactable on Ch9). Are they a bit like National Coastwatch here in the UK?

Oh, and do you recall (in one of your previous threads about SNSM vs RNLI) I made a little dig at you about the SNSM lifeboat at Saint-Vaast-La-Hougue lifeboat being kept in the (tidal) marina? Well, you might like to know that the Carteret one is also safely tucked up inside the tidal marina. So, usable about 6 hours in every 12. :nonchalance:

But that isn't a problem, because the St Helier RNLI ALB is only a stone's throw away and is available 24/7.

https://fr.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sémaphore_(signalisation_maritime)

No comment on Carteret. I have only partial access to the net at present but I am sure it is not a situation which will have escaped the SNSM's attention.

 

[chanelyacht]

Thought you might jump in there, Sybarite.

While you are here, a quick question. What service do the French Semaphore stations provide? Take the one on Cap de Carteret in Manche (contactable on Ch9). Are they a bit like National Coastwatch here in the UK?

Semaphores are operated by the French navy, and are classed as naval establishments. The services each one delivers varies, but in general, they alternate between daylight and 24/7 stations (I.e. Every other station is fully manned) and as well as providing a visual watch, they provide local coordination during maritime incidents (for example, CROSS will delegate smaller incidents), they provide vessel traffic monitoring (Ushant traffic being one) and maintain a radar watch linked to their managing naval base. They also monitor for fisheries enforcement, suspicious activity, and pollution prevention. It is a system which works well, and whitch the UK would do well to adopt on a professional level, rather than a well meaning charity.

 

[Angele]

Sybarite and Channelyacht, thanks for that guys. :encouragement:

 

[jonjo]

and which the UK would do well to adopt on a professional level, rather than a well meaning charity.

Talking of "well meaning charities", do you also advocate the nationalization or privatization of the RNLI?

 

[chanelyacht]

Talking of "well meaning charities", do you also advocate the nationalization or privatization of the RNLI?

Neither, (it's already private anyway) and is doing an excellent job as it is.

What a very silly question.

 

[jonjo]

What a very silly question.

If you are happy with the role performed by the RNLI which is a "well meaning charity" why do you doubt the competence of Coastwatch and suggest a new state run organization should be created to take over part of its role?

 

[chanelyacht]

If you are happy with the role performed by the RNLI which is a "well meaning charity" why do you doubt the competence of Coastwatch and suggest a new state run organization should be created to take over part of its role?

I was one of the founding directors of NCI, so I know exactly the competence levels and the role they were created to do.

Their current role is about 20% of the work of the French semaphores, and we've already had the model for how it should work, it was called HM Coastguard.

The RNLI are more then "well meaning volunteers", they are a professional third sector organisation - as NCI is becoming, in it's spot/plot/report role, but the UK's coastal surveillance requirements need something more than that.