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CMA CGM and Ponant, two leaders in the French maritime sector, have decided to support the Société Nationale des Sauveteurs en Mer (SNSM) by investing in the construction of a new rescue boat that will patrol Les Saintes islands in the French West Indies.
Concrete assistance for the SNSM's rescuers
CMA CGM and Ponant have decided to support the 8,000 volunteer rescuers who help over 30,000 people each year. These rescuers, who carry out operations at sea, also ensure safety along beaches, which will again see heavy traffic this Summer.
This investment is a concrete response to the SNSM's need to modernise its fleet and cover all of France's coastline.
A rescue boat for the French West Indies
The new boat, whose construction will begin in the next few months, will be delivered in 2021 and will be able to accommodate six volunteer rescuers on board. This 'Type 2' offshore rescue boat (NSH2) is part of the range of vessels included in the SNSM's 'New Rescue Fleet' programme.
The unsinkable, self-righting vessel measures 14.5 m long by 5 m wide, making it an essential tool for rescue operations in extreme conditions. It can be deployed on rescue missions 20 ‒ or even 50 ‒ nautical miles away from land. The lifeboat can conduct searches for persons lost at sea, recover and give preliminary medical treatment to shipwreck victims, coordinate rescues with a helicopter and draw alongside and tow rescued vessels.
Designed with a service life of 30 years, this boat is intended for the station at Les Saintes islands.
Solidarity in the seafaring community one month after the lifeboat Jack Morisseau capsized off the coast at Les Sables-d’Olonne
This partnership underlines the intense solidarity in the seafaring community. With this investment, CMA CGM and Ponant are deepening the volunteering commitments of their sailors at several rescue stations on the French coastline.
On this occasion, Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the CMA CGM Group, declared:
“As a shipping company with many volunteer collaborators within the SNSM, we were extremely affected by the incident of Les Sables-d'Olonne and the disappearance of the three rescuers. Every year, the SNSM and all its volunteers are doing remarkable work of assistance at sea and securing beaches. That’s why we decided to support them by contributing to the financing of a new rescue boat. Through this support, we express both our maritime solidarity and the human values of a family group such as ours.”
Jean-Emmanuel Sauvée, President and Co-founder of PONANT, noted: “As a sailor who has always been committed to honouring the reputation of the French flag – one of the safest in the world – I consider that the safety of our crew members and our passengers is the company’s top priority. For us, maintaining our support for the SNSM is unquestionable and symbolises the natural solidarity that unites sailors.”
Xavier de la Gorce, President of the SNSM, declared: “The SNSM is proud of this agreement, which attests to the solidarity on the seas and symbolises the linking role played by offshore rescuers in the maritime community. This support will allow us to pay for the partial replacement of the Les Saintes rescue boat after several years of hard and loyal service and over 50 rescue missions per year!”
