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National Society of Maritime Salvage (France)

Société Nationale de Sauvetage en Mer (SNSM)

Last modified: 2003-06-14 by ivan sache
Keywords: national society of maritime salvage | societe nationale de sauvetage en mer | snsm | anchors: 2 (yellow) | anchor (white) | rubber ring (yellow) |
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[Flag of SNSM]by Zeljko Heimer

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History of the SNSM

The SNSM was founded in 1967 by the merging of the HSB and the SCS.

  • HSB were Hospitaliers sauveteurs bretons (Breton Rescuers Hospitallers), founded in 1873. They were active on the coasts of the Channel, Brittany, and Vendée.
  • SCS was Société Centrale de Sauvetage en Mer (Central Society of Sea Rescue), founded in 1865. SCS was active on the other coasts of France.

The SNSM is a mutual aid association and its members are volunteers. Rescue is free but cargo salvage must be paid by the ship owner. Money received by the SNSM members goes to the association.
In most ports of France, The SNSM has a boathouse, on which its flag is hoisted, and motor boats which are always prepared to sail. The SNSM volunteers saved a lot of human lifes and are highly respected by the seamen.

The SNSM has 255 stations, 100 of them being open only in summertime. Its fleet has 156 ships:

  • 39 tout temps (all kind of weather) boats, which can be used in the harshest sea conditions. They are unsinkable and self-rightable. The most recent of these boats are 17.60 m in length, weight 26 tons and can reach a speed of 23 knots.
  • 29 first class launches, the 7 most recent of them being unsinkable, 13.30 in length and reaching a speed of 22 knots.
  • 48 second class launches (10.50 m, 24 knots).
  • 42 third class launches, for local operations by clement weather.
  • The SNSM also owns 425 inflatable dinghies, but does not operate aircrafts or helicopters. All ships shall be able to cast off within 15 minutes after an alert.

There are 3,500 members in the SNSM. all volunteers. Several them are seamen (fishers, members of the Navy and the Merchant Navy, yachtmen...) In summertime, 1,500 volunteers watch beaches. The SNSM has 27 education and training centers, with 300 volunteer instructors.

Funding of the SNSM is provided half by public funds (Ministeries, Regional and General Councils, Municipalities) and half by private funds (cash donations, legacies...)

In 1996, the SNSM rescued 8,731 people, including 1,166 windsurfers, salvaged 2,543 ships. 666 of the 8,731 rescued people were in hazard of death. That number averaged 800 per year (more than 14,000 in 18 years).

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