I have written posts on the stations dear to me, namely the local Etel and the sentimental Honfleur, memorable spots for my family, One of the best organisations in France that we follow with care. This is not your typical travel post, but recognition to those that deserve it, and hopefully you can get to see them at their base. Let me tell you about the national organisation of the SNSM of France !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I
We seek out always at our sentimental Honfleur, Normandy station the Notre Dame du Port SNS 131 boat from the SNSM ,société nationale de sauvetage en mer or National Society of Rescues at Sea. Always in my mind and soul, These pictures are from the Honfleur station that were given to me by the volunteers and I cherish preciously,
The SNSM rescue boats are located on 218 stations along the metropolitan and overseas coasts and operate under the authority and at the request of the regional operational surveillance and rescue centres (CROSS) which in France are the centers of emergency coordination at sea and which depend on the direction of ,Maritime Affairs of the Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy.
A bit of history I like to always tell you tell us that a British-majority aristocratic committee established the first rescue company in Boulogne-sur-Mer, in 1825 under the name “Human Society of the Shipwrecks”. Then, were created the human societies of Dunkerque, Calais, Rouen and Bayonne in 1834, of Dieppe in 1839, and finally Montreuil-sur-Mer in 1841. The beginning of centralization was only apparent in France in 1865, when the Central Shipwreck Rescue Society (SCSN) was founded under the chairmanship of Admiral de Genouilly. As a result of the WWII, everything was to be rebuilt, with most of the shelters and nautical means of the SCSN and the Breton Hospital Rescuers (HSB) being destroyed. The two companies with similar goals can no longer meet the needs of the entire French coastline, particularly because of the developing sea crafts and nautical recreation. Shortly after, in 1883, on the initiative of Nadault de Buffon – general advocate at the court of Rennes – the Society of Breton Rescue Hospitallers was created which provided complementary resources to those of the SCSN mainly on the beaches with emphasis on the development of maritime first aid.
The SNSM was born in 1967 of the merger of the Central Shipwrecked Rescue Society (SCSN) and the Breton Hospital Rescuers (HSB), a union raised by Admiral Maurice Amman, former maritime prefect of the 2nd region in Brest, which will become the President of the new company. Since the merger in October 1967, the name has been “National Society for the Safeguarding of Human Life and the Rescue of Shipwrecked Persons at Sea and on the Coast”; deemed too long, the name chosen on January 20, 1968 was “National Sea Rescue Society” (SNSM). The hulls of the SCSN boats were painted dark green (mostly all-weather canoes), those of the HSBs were painted navy blue (mostly speedboats), the association then kept these colors for its canoes and rescue speedboats.The SNSM has three types of activities, offshore rescue, training of seasonal rescue swimmers (lifeguards) ,and prevention of nautical risks.
To me ,they do other functions that are a must and appreciated, such as taking the ashes of my mother Gladys , wife Martine, and father Elio out to sea burial at Honfleur , Normandy , where the braves felled . I am very attach and supporter of the org and a donor since 2008. I will be next…..eventually.
The official SNSM organisation : https://www.snsm.org/
There you go a nice history , a wonderful job, and I love them. You too can visit them and they will show you their boats on many events program throughout the year. And of course, if you can donate, as these folks are all volunteers doing a human heck of a job me think. Another site to see in my belle France, Again, hope you enjoy the post on the SNSM of France !!! as I
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 